Soul Survivor

June 23rd, 2007

“It may be true that the devil made you do it, but make no mistake…you did it.”

Thursday night I went to see a live performance of this comedy by Ted Lange (yes that is Isaac the bartender from the Love Boat). Performed at the Ogden by Shadow Theatre Company*, Soul Survivor gathered a lively crowd of theatre goers for an evening of awkward laughter and bawdy entertainment.

Although the plot of Soul Survivor left something to be desired, it posed some interesting questions about life and our motivation for doing evil. The plot revolved around the dilemmas of three characters; Guy, an easy going man trying to live a good life until the devil comes to tempt him, the devil who serves as the comedic relief, and Stacy, an aspiring writer willing to sell her soul for a quick flick in the lime light. The devil, played by veteran performer Vincent Robinson, sets out to tempt Guy into selling his soul for the material attractions in life. He is infuriated when Guy refuses to sell for anything less than true love. As the play meanders on, the audience is left questioning whether the devil really exists or if he is merely an easy scapegoat for our mal intentions.

The play also challenged the perception of easy success. Stacy was dying to become the next great writer but Guy lovingly let her know she needed some work. Rather than working at the craft and trying to better herself, Stacy sold her soul to the devil thinking he could bring about a quick fix. Stacy’s dilemma was a potent reminder that in life there are no quick fixes worth having. People may tempt you with a quick rise to the top, but even if they can offer some level of fame your work is still only a product of what you put into it.

*A special note about Shadow Theatre Company (STC)- Ten years ago STC was formed out of the need for an African American theatre company among Denver’s otherwise homogeneous theatre troupes. Over the years the company has served as a haven for diverse writers, producers, designers, and actors to showcase their talent, skills, and wisdom and has attracted audiences who might otherwise not attend the theatre.

Congratulations Shadow Theatre Company on ten years of creativity and success– way to keep it Savvy!