The Devil and Billy Markham: a devilishly fun time

This show is a mesmerizing gem of storytelling. *The Devil and Billy Markham* is an hour-long tall tale about a gambling, rock ‘n roller’s dealings with the devil. During his travels, he loses a crooked game of the dice to the Devil and finds himself roasting in hell. However, Billy Markham isn’t one to stop playing just because he’s low.

Through hell, heaven, and back again, we follow Billy as he plays pool with God, has a sexual spree to rival Wilt Chamberlain and tries to find some revenge for the wrongs done to him, his sweetheart and his mama.

The non-stop narrative by Shel Silverstein is pure imagination delivered at a rapid-fire pace. Silverstein is best known for his whimsical children’s books, such as The Giving Tree, The Missing Piece, and Where the Sidewalk Ends. His incredible use of language is visually evocative and filled with all sorts of delightful surprises. *In The Devil and Billy Markham*, Silverstein’s usual whimsy is tempered with a twist of delightful naughtiness (parents be warned: leave the kids at home!)

To give you an idea, here are the first four lines of the play:

_The Devil walked into Linebaugh's on a rainy Nashville night_

_While the lost souls sat and sipped their soup in the sickly yellow neon light._

_And the Devil, he looked around the room, then got down on his knees._

_He says, "Is there one among you scum who'll roll the dice with me?_

Matthew Kowalchuk bears the considerable responsibility for Silverstein’s narrative, while Daniel Deokson performs the musical interludes the sound design elements that complement the piece. The story is simply told: Kowalchuk pretty much stands and delivers the different characters while Deokson generates an array of sounds and voices to flesh things out. Kowalchuk’s character work is specific and highly entertaining. Billy is rough and endearing, and the devil is, of course, charming and funny (and sounds a bit like Will Ferrell’s impersonation of Harry Carey). Deokson’s sound design is the perfect complement to the text, although he seems to shine more when he’s backing up then when he’s performing the solo musical interludes. The dense text is well served by the cleanness of the directing and lighting design by Kevin Sutley. Even though the production values are simple, the show captures the iconic grandeur of a meeting between a gambler and devil.

If you have an hour to spare, come see this show. It’s highly entertaining and a fantastic, wild ride.

_The Devil and Billy Markham; Written by Shel Silverstein; Directed by Kevin Sutley; Performed by Matthew Kowalchuk and Daniel Deorksen; Sound Design: Daniel Doerksen; Lighting Design: Kevin Sutley Presented by Chutzpah! Festival_