To that short list of repeat reads I will soon add The Screwtape Letters, the 1942 Lewis book that catapulted him to literary renown.
When I first read Screwtape, about five years ago, I found it to be a richly told, insightful and, at times, hilarious look at an uncle-and-nephew demon team's efforts to snare the soul of a man in World War II England.
So when a friend from Harvest Bible Chapel organized a "date night" for couples last Friday night to see the current stage production of Screwtape, at the Mercury Theater in Chicago, I leapt at the chance.
The 90-minute show was tremendously, wickedly good. Max McLean, who has played the Screwtape role for about 200 shows, was a commanding, powerful presence. And his sidekick, Yvonne Gougelet, played his cat/secretary, Toadpipe, with remarkable energy. Without uttering an intelligible word, she communicated so such as she encompassed a wide physical range assisting Screwtape and embodying various personalities he conjures.
After the show, McLean (pictured with me) graciously fielded questions and shared insights about the process he undertakes to perform. The impromptu 15- to 20-minute Q and A with me, Bridgett, and a friend were almost as rewarding as the show itself.
Radio personality Mancow Muller was among those who attended the show, and I told McLean that Mancow was profiled by Cathleen Falsani in her excellent book, The God Factor.
Interestingly, Mancow had interviewed McLean for his show recently. At one point, off the air, McLean mentioned his own Christian "conversion experience" at 23 years old, he told me. Mancow, however, did not discuss his own Christian faith with McLean, the actor noted. Falsani outlines Mancow's spiritual side in The God Factor, and McLean was intrigued to check out the book, not only to read Mancow's journey but those of the many others profiled, spanning an array of faiths.
You can learn more about McLean at MaxMcLean.com and The Screwtape Letters' production at Screwtape On Stage.
This is an occasional blog on various musings and experiences. To read more about my professional work, visit the Inside Edge PR blog.
