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. | ||
| − | 1998 | + | ==Performance history in South Africa == |
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| + | 1986: A [[Graham Wright]] Production of this play was directed and acted by [[Mike Aronstam]] in 1986 in the [[Baxter Theatre|Baxter Studio]]. | ||
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| + | 1998: Produced in Cape Town, starring [[Graham Clarke]]. | ||
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| + | 2005: Graham Clarke revives his award-winning performance of the late American author Shel Silverstein's epic one-man comedy poem. It is filled with a mixture of profanity and profound wisdom. | ||
== Sources == | == Sources == | ||
[[ESAT Bibliography Bar-Bas|Barrow, Brian & Williams-Short, Yvonne]] 1988. (1986 production). | [[ESAT Bibliography Bar-Bas|Barrow, Brian & Williams-Short, Yvonne]] 1988. (1986 production). | ||
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| + | “Clarke is a compelling, masterful and humorous story-teller… he holds the audience in his grip without a falter for an hour.” - Fiona Chisholm, Argus 2005 | ||
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https://alexanderbar.co.za/show/theDevilandBilllyMarkham/ | https://alexanderbar.co.za/show/theDevilandBilllyMarkham/ | ||
at alexander bar-café-theatre 76 Strand Street, Cape Town. 2005? | at alexander bar-café-theatre 76 Strand Street, Cape Town. 2005? | ||
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Revision as of 08:52, 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. It is filled with a mixture of profanity and profound wisdom.
Sources
Barrow, Brian & Williams-Short, Yvonne 1988. (1986 production).
“Clarke is a compelling, masterful and humorous story-teller… he holds the audience in his grip without a falter for an hour.” - Fiona Chisholm, Argus 2005
Return to D in Plays 1 Original SA Plays
Return to D in Plays 2 Foreign Plays
Return to South_African_Theatre/Plays
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https://alexanderbar.co.za/show/theDevilandBilllyMarkham/ at alexander bar-café-theatre 76 Strand Street, Cape Town. 2005?
