GREEN TEA is a ‘psychological thriller’, adapted by Luke Townson from Sheridan Le Fanu’s 19th Century tale.
In this intriguing one-man show, Luke Townson plays the ‘philosophic physician’ Dr. Martin Hesselius, as well as a number other characters.
This is a story about Dr. Hesselius dealing with a case of an evil spirit tormenting a kind and respected English church Reverend (Jennings). The influence of the works of Swedish philosopher and ‘spiritualist’, Emanuel Swedenborg, play a significant role in this 19th Century ‘gothic’ tale. Swedenborg believed that we have with us at all times two demons whose ultimate goal is to destroy us.
Whether or not you actually believe this is irrelevant as this is the ‘artistic truth’ in this show. In dealing with any form of ‘gothic’ drama, including Shakespeare’s Hamlet as well as Stephen Mallatratt’s The Woman in Black it is necessary to suspend belief, or disbelief, in the spiritual world, in order to enjoy the show.
In this story there is only one demon from hell – ‘a black monkey’. This demon haunts the Reverend and is always visible to him no matter what time of the day or night. Even when the Reverend is in the supposed sanctuary of his church and private residence this ‘black monkey’ menaces him, urging him to destroy himself. Eventually, he appeals to Dr. Hesselius who as a ‘philosophical physician’ is an expert in these matters.
Can the good doctor save this man of God in time? That is the drama of this rather suspenseful and chilling story.
-Tony Knight
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