David Rozema
Philosophy Professor, 308.865.8298
Tony Lawton will return and take center stage on Monday, Oct. 8, at 7:30 p.m. in an adaptation of C.S. Lewis’ book “The Screwtape Letters.”
The performance, which is free and open to the public, features Lawton and Kim Carson at the Kearney Merryman Performing Arts Center. The presentation is sponsored by the University of Nebraska at Kearney Department of Philosophy.
According to Lawton, “The Screwtape Letters,” set in a dark corner of hell’s bureaucracy, is the story of the mid-level demon Screwtape as he writes letters to his nephew, Worwood. These letters are filled with advice on how to corrupt the human soul. Gleefully, Screwtape catalogs the list of human frailties, such as war, lust, debauchery, decadence and all sorts of wickedness, upon which Wormwood is to prey.
Dr. David Rozema, UNK philosophy professor, said, “Lawton appeared in last year’s production of ‘The Great Divorce.’ We had an excellent response to that event and invited him back for more!”
Lawton has acted professionally since 1992 and has performed in productions such as “The Lonesome West,” “True West,” “Of Mice and Men,” “The Devil and Billy Markham,” “The Great Divorce” and “The Screwtape Letters.” Lawton was a 1999 finalist for the F. Otto Haas Award, and was named the city’s Best One-Man Theatre by Philadelphia’s City Paper.
Lawton’s first original play, “The Foocy,” was produced in 2005-2006. The play received five Barrymore nominations, including one for Best New Play.
Lawton also started the Mirror Theatre Company, which presents solo and small-cast plays. His company presents drama about spiritual life for all audiences, secular or religious. Lawton said he wants to present plays that are part of an ongoing dialogue with the audience.
Author of “The Screwtape Letters,” C.S. Lewis was born in Ireland, studied at Oxford, fought in World War I, and was named professor of medieval and renaissance English at Cambridge. In his mid-twenties, Lewis converted from atheism to Christianity. After which, he went on to author several books which still sell millions of copies every year all over the world. These works are varied, ranging from his works of Christian apologetics to his satire and fiction. Some of his works include “Mere Christianity,” “The Screwtape Letters,” “The Space Trilogy,” “Till We Have Faces” and his series of children’s books, “The Chronicles of Narnia.”