The notorious demon Screwtape, immortalized in The Screwtape Letters, a book by C.S. Lewis, was brought 
to the stage in Madison in a one-act drama by actor Tom Key. In the original book, C.S. Lewis presented a series of letters between the demon Screwtape, and his young prodigy, Wormwood. In his drama, Key presents a graduation ceremony at Dr. Slubgob’s Tempter Training College for Young Devils.
Like the book, the dramatic presentation is based on reverse psychology. Everything that is praised is actually bad behavior that reflects negatively on the moral challenges we all face as we wrestle with our personal demons. That which the demons condemn reflects the ways we are able to overcome the moral challenges of our lives. Key speaks in the voice of various teachers, such as Dr. Slumtrippet, Dr. Toadpipe and Mr. Unteach. Along the way he skewers human habits which so easily open us up to devilish devices, such as the downside of democracy and phariseeism within Christian circles.
While The Screwtape Letters has recently been adapted for Broadway by Max McLean, and is being produced as a movie by Walden Media, Tom Key has been doing C.S. Lewis since 1978. His acting has won him praise from critics across the country. His signature presentation, "C.S. Lewis on Stage," will be at 7:00 this evening at the Pres House, 731 State Street. It is free and open to the public, as part of a weekend conference on C.S. Lewis, coordinated by New College Madison, the Bradshaw-Knight Foundation, and several other groups.