By Tracy Hawkins
Bill Rahill as The Statue, Kirsten Quinn as Dona Ana, John Cannon as The Devil, Rob Hargraves as DonJuan.
“Don Juan in Hell” is the rarely performed third act of George Bernard Shaw’s philosophical comedy “Man and Superman.” This dream episode depicts a lively debate between Don Juan, the Devil, Juan’s former lover Doña Ana, and her father, The Statue, or the Commander, who was murdered by Don Juan in a duel while defending his daughter’s honor. Shaw explores heaven versus hell. Is heaven all it’s cracked up to be? Or does hell promise much, much more?
It is rarely performed perhaps because it’s not a play in the conventional sense – it’s a conversation, or a debate. In the 1950’s and early 60’s, famous actors toured with a staged reading, including notables such as Charles Laughton and Charles Boyer. It makes sense, in that the audience could focus on the words and the delivery of them by some of the great actors (and voices) of the 20th Century.
The production is directed by Artistic Director Peggy Mecham and features local artists including John Cannon (The Devil), Robert Hargraves (Don Juan), Kirsten Quinn (Doña Ana) and William Rahill (The Statue). The lighting design is by Eric Baker, and Sound and Projection Design is by Jack Zaferes.
If you go: the show is 90 minutes long and runs through March 24. Tickets are available at https://www.irishheritagetheatre.org/. Performances are on the Main Stage at Plays and Players, 1714 Delancey St, Philadelphia.