Quote of the Day: If you prick us, do we not bleed? If you tickle us, do we not laugh? If you poison us, do we not die? And if you wrong us, shall we not revenge? Shylock in The Merchant of Venice, Act Three, Scene One, one of the many characters that Patrick Page portrays in his one-man show, All the Devils are Here, How Shakespeare invented the Villain.
Don’t be afraid of the title of this performance, All the Devils Are Here, Patrick Page says that not ALL of them are here, just the ones that serve the story. And, besides, it’s the villains that create the conflict in the story, the ones we secretly want to know more about, the ones that are fun to play as an actor. Don’t be afraid of “one-man show,” as Page is so skilled that he gives you the impression of being many characters in this multi-character performance, often within the same scene. And, don’t be afraid of examining the darker side of humanity. After all, Socrates says, “The unexamined life is not worth living.” Patrick Page says, “It is only in exploring that darker side of ourselves that we can find any light.” (from the interview online by Broadway World, printed in the Playbill at the Guthrie Theater.) We learn that William Shakespeare was a expert at examining human nature. He was the first to ask, “Why does this person do these evil deeds?” What is the motivation behind the action?
To attend this performance is to be immersed in a master class of storytelling and acting. We sat spellbound as Patrick Page performed character after character with distinction. He offers history on Shakespeare and the development of the villain throughout the performance. Each new scene has lighting and sound changes, which are critical in giving the audience a sense of place and character. Sound design by Darron L. West. Lighting by Stacey Derosier. The set itself, designed by Arnulfo Maldonado, is a self-contained stage with rows of lighting, boxes (speakers?) where props can be set and retrieved, and a few simple set pieces like a desk, chair, and curtain.
A particularly memorable scene for me was Macbeth and Lady Macbeth. It begins with a blackout, then backlit with smoke billowing from upstage. Page takes the stance of one of the witches (or a golem-like creature) predicting Macbeth’s fate. The lights and sound effects provide a shift, and Page becomes both Lord and Lady Macbeth plotting the murder of the king. My mind never wandered during these scenes. I sat mesmerized, as did my companion. She said that she’d never been so focused on a performance in her life.
You can experience Patrick Page’s solo performance of All the Devils Are Here: How Shakespeare Invented the Villain, directed by Simon Godwin, at the Guthrie Theater through November 17, 2024. He offers a post-show discussion after each performance, which was also fascinating. He is also working on a book by the same title which is set for publication in 2026. You can read more about the show, Patrick Page and how/why he created this piece and read a couple interviews at the website for the Guthrie Theater.
The Guthrie Theater is the first stop on a national tour. Visit Patrick Page All The Devils Are Here website for tour cities/dates.
Go. Create. Inspire!
Journaling Prompt: Which of Shakespeare’s villains most intrigues you? Mine is Lady Macbeth for her cold-hearted manipulation
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