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The Devil's Disciple
George Bernard Shaw was born in Dublin in 1856. Before becoming a playwright he wrote music and literary criticism. Shaw used his writing to attack social problems such as education, marriage, religion, government, health care, and class privilege. Shaw was particularly conscious of the exploitation of the working class.
Audio CD
Published
August 1st 2006
by LA Theatre Works
(first published 1897)
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Feb 22, 2013
Lina AL Ojaili
rated it
1 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
george-bernard-shaw
تابع الأنسان مناسب أكثر
After possessing a copy of a book of four Shaw plays, I became rather excited. I have read two of his works beforehand and found them entertaining and brilliant. The idea of the American Revolution being a center point for the story did alarm me slightly, not wishing to delve into that time period nor the country. What I found from reading the first act was delightful.
My first introduction to the character Richard was explosive and entertaining. For a man composed and said to be pure evil, he w...more
My first introduction to the character Richard was explosive and entertaining. For a man composed and said to be pure evil, he w...more
Mar 19, 2013
Joy H.
marked it as watched-film-only
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
adapted-to-film,
classic
Added 3/19/13.
March 2013 - I watched the 1990 British film adaptation starring Patrick Stewart (via a Netflix DVD). I did not read the play.
FILM ADAPTATIONS:
IMDb: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0133712/f... ("Theatre Night" "The Devil's Disciple" (1987) (1990?) (with Ian Richardson, Elizabeth Spriggs, & Patrick Stewart)
IMDb: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0052735/?... ( The Devil's Disciple (1959) ) (with Burt Lancaster, Kirk Douglas, & Laurence Olivier)
NETFLIX: http://dvd.netflix.com/Movie/Th...more
March 2013 - I watched the 1990 British film adaptation starring Patrick Stewart (via a Netflix DVD). I did not read the play.
FILM ADAPTATIONS:
IMDb: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0133712/f... ("Theatre Night" "The Devil's Disciple" (1987) (1990?) (with Ian Richardson, Elizabeth Spriggs, & Patrick Stewart)
IMDb: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0052735/?... ( The Devil's Disciple (1959) ) (with Burt Lancaster, Kirk Douglas, & Laurence Olivier)
NETFLIX: http://dvd.netflix.com/Movie/Th...more
George Bernard Shaw could be acerbic, but The Devil’s Disciple is more of a light romp, a dig in the ribs of those members of the religious community who take themselves far too seriously. Shaw’s message to the audience is to eat, drink and be merry. Nobody loves a misery.
All’s well that ends well in this comedy, kept light-hearted by its lovable bad-boy hero. The aptly named Mrs. Dudgeon, representing all that is dour, dreary and womanish about religion, gets her come-uppance in a most satisfyi...more
All’s well that ends well in this comedy, kept light-hearted by its lovable bad-boy hero. The aptly named Mrs. Dudgeon, representing all that is dour, dreary and womanish about religion, gets her come-uppance in a most satisfyi...more
The first play that I have read, the Devils Disciple is an encouraging start. Fast paced, clever, and witty this three act play follows the lives of several New Englanders during the revolutionary war. The dour Mrs. Dudgeon, held in high esteem for her desultory piety by the local community, opens the play overseeing (in a condescending abrasive way) her illegitimate grandaughter while awaiting the return of her husband who has traveled to attend the hanging (by the british forces) of his broth...more
Short play by Shaw that castigates the negativity of Puritanism. In other words, the Puritanical definition of holiness as not doing things you shouldn't. Shaw also, as is his wont, criticizes those who follow the status quo or who bow to the opinions of others. It is interesting that the man character, Richard aka the Devil's Disciple, should turn to the ministry while Anderson the priest should turn warrior. Shaw also endeavors to save Guscoyne's reputation (he was the general who served as th...more
Mar 21, 2013
Eddy Allen
rated it
4 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
fiction-and-westerns
At the most wretched hour between a black night and a wintry morning in the year 1777, Mrs. Dudgeon, of New Hampshire, is sitting up in the kitchen and general dwelling room of her farm house on the outskirts of the town of Websterbridge. She is not a prepossessing woman. No woman looks her best after sitting up all night; and Mrs. Dudgeon's face, even at its best, is grimly trenched by the channels into which the barren forms and observances of a dead Puritanism can pen a bitter temper and a fi...more
I love this play. I've read it so many times I've lost count. This book is all about a man who doesn't care what others think of him. His name is Richard Dudgeon (Dick), and he is basically outcast from everyone in his family. They all consider him to be below them and to be a terrible "sinner." Shaw basically shows Dick to be a man of better morality than his relatives and to be a true hero. Dick is the most Christ-like character in the book, even though he rejects Christians and is rejected by...more
I love the plays of George Bernard Shaw. Usually. This wasn't bad but its an early effort and left me wanting more. There's some good stuff here though. The romance is novel and the narrative pace is brisk. The trial scene though is like a blue print for the one in "Saint Joan" and I kept wishing I was reading that play instead of this one.
Nov 12, 2011
Elius
rated it
2 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Recommends it for:
High Schools
Shelves:
2011-books,
drama
This was my second Shaw play after Man and Superman, and honestly, I expected more. Maybe because Don Juan in Hell: From Man and Superman had so much philosophy crammed in it, that I expected the same from a play titled The Devil's Disciple.
Anyway, on to the play, Shaw discusses the US Revolutionary War in his own satirical way. I did see his criticisms to those who maintain the status quo and his pulling the nose of the religious community, but all-in-all, it was a fast and simple read.
Anyway, on to the play, Shaw discusses the US Revolutionary War in his own satirical way. I did see his criticisms to those who maintain the status quo and his pulling the nose of the religious community, but all-in-all, it was a fast and simple read.
Oct 14, 2008
Katie
rated it
5 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Recommended to Katie by:
Saw the play at Ithaca College
A "devil's disciple" is usually a bad guy..but remember that Shaw was essentially a satirist. As usual, he turns everything on its ears, in this case notions of heroism, patriotism, piety, and propriety, among other perennial favorites. The British Army comes off looking rather silly, as does colonial America ("I have defined the 100% American as 99% an idiot," Shaw once said, "and they just love me").
So anyway, what is the proper way to hang a gentleman as a prisoner of war? Should you let his...more
So anyway, what is the proper way to hang a gentleman as a prisoner of war? Should you let his...more
From BBC Radio 4 Extra:
George Bernard Shaw's biting satire on puritanism, set during the American Revolution. Stars Tony Church and James Laurenson.
George Bernard Shaw's biting satire on puritanism, set during the American Revolution. Stars Tony Church and James Laurenson.
Reminded me very much of "Tale of Two Cities", particularly the terrific ending. Maybe my favorite ending of all time.
If I can find this performed, I'll order tickets. My first Shaw work and enjoyed the tale.
داستان عشق جودیت [زن کشیش] به کشیش و ریچارد که طنزی تلخ نهفته دارد
Interesting play, though the story was quick, ending unusual.
Shaw, George Bernard
The Complete Bernard Shaw Plays
In compilation only.
The Complete Bernard Shaw Plays
In compilation only.
A view of some hypocrisy of early American puritanism. An excellent play. Bernard Shaw's dialogue isn't great, but you can see a lot of his intelligence and writing skills come out in his scene introductions and character descriptions. A short play that is definately worth a read if you haven't done so already.
Shaw's clever play about the US Revolutionary War does not disappoint. Droll, intelligent, and highly moral, the last of these may be seen as a surprise for Shaw. On the other hand, it gives him a chance to razz the British government, something he could never resist. Smart work.
اولین نمایشنامهای بود که از شاو خواندم. نثری فوقالعاده جذاب و دلنشین با گوشهها و طنازیهایی پنهان و پر اثر
مسرحية جريئة تطرح العديد من القضايا الدنيوية بصورة فكاهية اقرب الى الهزلية ..
امتعتني حقاً ..
امتعتني حقاً ..
a little bit of American History as told by playwright from Dublin
absolutely absurd!
Deliciously sardonic.
May 12, 2008
Kirsten
rated it
5 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
books-to-read-aloud-as-a-family,
favorites
high school +
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George Bernard Shaw was an Irish playwright, socialist, and a co-founder of the London School of Economics. Although his first profitable writing was music and literary criticism, in which capacity he wrote many highly articulate pieces of journalism, his main talent was for drama. Over the course of his life he wrote more than 60 plays. Nearly all his plays address prevailing social problems, but...more
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“The worst sin towards our fellow creatures is not to hate them, but to be indifferent to them; that's the essence of inhumanity.”
—
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