The Devils (play)

The Devils
Written by	John Whiting
Characters	Urbain Grandier Sister Jeanne of the Angeles Philippe Trincant Adam Mannoury Father Mignon Baron de Laubardemont Father Pierre Barre Cardinal Richelieu
Date premiered	1961
Place premiered	Aldwych Theatre
Original language	English
Genre	Drama
Setting	Loudun and Paris, France, 1634

The Devils is a play, commissioned by Sir Peter Hall for the Royal Shakespeare Company and written by British dramatist John Whiting, based on Aldous Huxley's book, The Devils of Loudun.

The Devils had its first performance at London's Aldwych Theatre in February, 1961, with Dorothy Tutin portraying the deformed and hysterical Sister Jeanne of the Angels, and Richard Johnson as the existential hero, Father Urbain Grandier. Diana Rigg appeared in the supporting role of Philippe and Max Adrian played the zealot exorcist, Father Pierre Barre (Max Adrian himself would go on to appear in the film version of the play, albeit not as Pierre Barre, but as Ibert, the chemist). Whiting revised his text in 1963, shortly before his death from cancer. The play was subsequently produced at the Arena Stage in Washington, D.C. under the direction of Zelda Fichandler, and on Broadway in 1965, with Anne Bancroft and Jason Robards in the leading roles. The Broadway version was produced by Alexander H. Cohen and directed by Michael Cacoyannis, and ran for a total of 31 performances. In 1967, the Mark Taper Forum in Los Angeles presented The Devils as its inaugural production, directed by Gordon Davidson and starring Frank Langella in the role of Grandier. The play was performed by the Melbourne Theatre Company as part of its repertory season. It starred Fred Parslow and Joanna McCallum.

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