Difference between revisions of "The Devil and Billy Markham"
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| − | ''The Devil and Billy Markham'' | + | ''The Devil and Billy Markham'' is a short comedy play by Sheldon Allan "Shel" Silverstein (September 25, 1930 – May 8/9, 1999 [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shel_Silverstein]), an American poet, singer-songwriter, cartoonist, screenwriter and author of children's books. |
| + | written in rhymed couplets, Billy Markham loses a sucker's bet with the Devil but ultimately outwits him. (Cast: 1m) | ||
| + | Billy Markham is an out of work blues singer. A boozer and loser, Billy is in a bar one evening where he is challenged to a game of dice by the Devil; the stakes are his soul. It kicks off a escalating game, taking the characters between Hell, Heaven and Nashville, and moving from hilarity to poignant drama. The text is a lively celebration of the English language. | ||
| + | == Original text == | ||
| + | Published in ''Playboy'' in 1979, it was later adapted into a solo one-act play that debuted on a double bill with Mamet's ''Bobby Gould in Hell'' in 1989 at the Lincoln Center. Published in a paperback edition in 1991. | ||
| + | |||
| + | ==Performance history in South Africa == | ||
| + | |||
| + | 1986: A [[Graham Wright]] Production of this play was directed and acted by [[Mike Aronstam]] in 1986 in the [[Baxter Theatre|Baxter Studio]]. | ||
| + | |||
| + | 1998: Produced in Cape Town, starring [[Graham Clarke]]. | ||
| + | |||
| + | 2005: Graham Clarke revives his award-winning performance of the late American author Shel Silverstein's epic one-man comedy poem at the [[Alexander Upstairs]], Cape Town. It is filled with a mixture of profanity and profound wisdom. | ||
| + | |||
| + | == Sources == | ||
| + | [[ESAT Bibliography Bar-Bas|Barrow, Brian & Williams-Short, Yvonne]] 1988. (1986 production). | ||
| + | |||
| + | Review written by [[Fiona Chisholm]] published in the ''[[Cape Argus]]'' in 2005 (exact date unknown). | ||
Latest revision as of 09:09, 15 May 2017
The Devil and Billy Markham is a short comedy play by Sheldon Allan "Shel" Silverstein (September 25, 1930 – May 8/9, 1999 [1]), an American poet, singer-songwriter, cartoonist, screenwriter and author of children's books. written in rhymed couplets, Billy Markham loses a sucker's bet with the Devil but ultimately outwits him. (Cast: 1m) Billy Markham is an out of work blues singer. A boozer and loser, Billy is in a bar one evening where he is challenged to a game of dice by the Devil; the stakes are his soul. It kicks off a escalating game, taking the characters between Hell, Heaven and Nashville, and moving from hilarity to poignant drama. The text is a lively celebration of the English language.
Original text
Published in Playboy in 1979, it was later adapted into a solo one-act play that debuted on a double bill with Mamet's Bobby Gould in Hell in 1989 at the Lincoln Center. Published in a paperback edition in 1991.
Performance history in South Africa
1986: A Graham Wright Production of this play was directed and acted by Mike Aronstam in 1986 in the Baxter Studio.
1998: Produced in Cape Town, starring Graham Clarke.
2005: Graham Clarke revives his award-winning performance of the late American author Shel Silverstein's epic one-man comedy poem at the Alexander Upstairs, Cape Town. It is filled with a mixture of profanity and profound wisdom.
Sources
Barrow, Brian & Williams-Short, Yvonne 1988. (1986 production).
Review written by Fiona Chisholm published in the Cape Argus in 2005 (exact date unknown).
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