The Devil's Wife

<p>   “It wouldn’t be the first time a reckless marriage led straight to hell. Rarely however has a spouse—however demonic—turned out to be literally Satan. Which somewhat raises the stakes for three sisters hoping a mysterious suitor will rescue them from desperate financial straits in THE DEVIL’S WIFE…<br />   Loosely adapted from an ancient Italian folk tale…playwright Tom Jacobson’s delightfully creepy new postmodern fable makes an entertaining and thought-provoking debut…<br />   …the story [is situated] in an ambiguous but vaguely Spanish-American Gothic setting that stylishly befits Jacobson’s whimsical mash-up of fairy-tale tropes and modern sensibilities. As in the original legend the Prince of Darkness successively woos three sisters in the guise of Nicolas Mastema a wealthy suavely seductive lawyer who promises to salvage their endangered family estate if one of them will marry him.<br />   The only catch: His bride must never open the door to his cellar which reportedly offers that which each visitor most desires. Oh and there’s a curious business involving a wooden staff bequeathed by the sisters’ late father that Nicolas seems way too eager to acquire.<br />   THE DEVIL’S WIFE is a smart satisfying thrill ride.<br />Naturally the temptation to cross the forbidden threshold proves impossible to resist first for the beautiful but haughtily insecure Bonita then for the sweet-tempered sexpot Dulce. It’s left to the brainy Sofia to try to outwit Nicolas with a strategy that ultimately pits heaven against hell…<br />   Jacobson’s signature intelligence and wit are never in short supply and running a little more than an hour the play elegantly poses an ever-deepening volley of sophisticated theological and philosophical questions.<br />   …THE DEVIL’S WIFE is a smart satisfying thrill ride with a unique supernaturally tinged caution against depending on the kindness of strangers.”<br />Philip Brandes Los Angeles Times</p>