Carolina History Theater invites you to come celebrate the 250th with an Irish playwright’s tale of the American Revolution, “The Devil’s Disciple.”

 

It’s 1777 and the wars are fierce in New England—not just between the colonials and the British, but between self-proclaimed devil’s disciple Richard Dudgeon and his puritanical family and relatives.

 

 Meanwhile, the British are making life hard, hanging a man in every town. Richard’s malcontent uncle Peter was hanged in nearby Springtown and his family is convinced that he will be their target here. But Richard is convinced otherwise: they hanged Peter for being of a prominent family, not for being a bad example, he declares, and he is convinced the local pastor Andrew Anderson will be their target.

 

Things reach a peak when he is visiting the minister and his young wife and, after the Anderson steps out to tend to a sick parishioner, the British arrive to arrest him. Richard finds himself facing a moral decision for perhaps the first time in his life.

 

“The Devil’s Disciple” is an early play by George Bernard Shaw (the Irish playwright whose most famous work, “Pygmalion,” was the source for “My Fair Lady”). Shaw is recognized for his brilliant and witty dialogue and subtle sarcasm about society’s norms. Originally produced in 1893, it was Shaw’s first hit in America.

 

CHT is a traveling dinner theater company dedicated to the presentation of history and classic plays. Bill Hand, its director, was formerly the founder and director of the North Carolina History Theater.

 

This play will be produced over three weekends during September and October, performing each week at a different location:

 

• Firefly Café, New Bern, as a dinner show on September 11 at 6:30 p.m. and September 13 at 3 p.m. (Call 252-631-1115 or visit www.fireflycafenewbern.com for information).

 

 • The Old Theater, Oriental, at 7:30 p.m. September 19 and 3 p.m. September 20. (Call 252-631-1115 or visit www.oldtheater.org for information).

 

• Carolina Home and Gardens, Newport, as a dinner show, October 9 at 6:30 p.m. (call 252-393-9004 or visit www.carolinahomegarden.com for information).

 

You may also call 252-229-4977. All tickets need to be purchased through the venues.

Come see this great show honoring America’s 250th anniversary!