The Devil You Say

The devil deliciously dishes his dastardly dealings and dreadful doings, defending himself from the bad P.R. he gets in the Bible and throughout history. He is a thoughtful demon, articulate and persuasive. He's not such a bad guy, he's just doing what needs to be done to rule hell and Earth. With an occasional puff of eldritch fumes from his mouth to emphasize his points, he makes a delightful case for himself and charms all who see this show, with the able assistance of Robin Walsh, the velvet voice of Kila Packett, the mournful music of Jen Simone, and the fiendish facilitation of Adrian Rose Leonard.... full review

Robin Walsh has created an exquisite puppet, caring for every detail in it's craftmanship, and bringing it to life with incredible nuance and agility. Her 40 minute show is worth the time just for the virtuosic puppetry...adding to it a feast of words that will appeal to bibliophiles who are interested in 'first hand' literary depictions of a delishious gentleman, the devil. watching her operate the puppet is like watching a dance you've never imagined, and are glad to have witnessed.... full review

A magical afternoon in the theater! And such a pleasure to watch these skilled artists make the magic ... every element is beautifully crafted. The language is complex, and I felt a little tug between wanting to decipher every word and nuance of the text, and wanting to just let go and let the Devil's eerie grace and intoxicating voice bewitch me - but really, either way, one can't lose!!... full review

Of the dozens, hundreds, of vehicles in this year's festival, NOTHING is as Utterly Unique as this one! When was the last time you saw near-life-size bunraku puppetry on Santa Monica Boulevard, or anywhere else in California, for that matter? It's breath-taking to see Robin Walsh's manipulation of a four-foot Satan, complete with cloven hoof, but the real Star of the show is Kila Packett, who voices---superbly---the entire 37-minute monologue from across the stage. Even 37 minutes is wearing, though, because the monlogue material is SO dense, SO literate, sometimes SO difficult to follow. You've (probably) never seen anything like this, but whether you'll enjoy it is something else! ... full review

Some of the best, most intricately staged puppetry I've ever seen. And on top of that, you're treated to a diabolical philosophical and intellectually stimulating treatise on the true nature of Satan. It was... dare I say... devilishly thought-provoking. Go, and have your beliefs challenged. ... full review

Robin Walsh is a fantastic puppeteer. And the puppet is memorizing. Meeting the puppet in person at one of the Fringe events is strange and haunting. It really is a spooky thing to watch. And Kila Packett has a great voice that fits right in with the Devil's musings. A little stage business rounds out this moody, artful piece. ... full review

The puppetry and the devil puppet itself are amazing. A lot of smart moments of humor and poetry. Loved it!... full review

The puppetry in this piece is wonderful. Slower paced than some shows, but in a good way. I felt like I was under a spell as I watched. ... full review

do not miss this show! go and be prepared to enjoy. this was my first fringe experience and I thoroughly enjoyed it. I would like to see more performances like this.. ... full review

It's a real treat to see such skillful puppetry. Lord Satan was so detailed and lovely with his bewitching sparkling eyes, truly mesmerizing. The Punch and Judy show had great comic timing. Lot's to digest, story-wise, and maybe a touch of sympathy for the devil! A philosophers treat, I only wish I had a little brandy to sip by that fire ...... full review