A Devil Inside: Feet, a table, and sometimes, two chairs

Within two months of moving to Vicksburg, Alex Long found herself “roped in by Jack Burns” as a chorus member of Sweeney Todd. Now, six years later, she is finding herself in the director’s chair.

“I like to try new things and therefore challenge myself, and there was something that was kind of intimidating or scary about the idea. I had done enough production, and I know all of the the pieces, but I’ve never been in control or had to make those decisions. So it was partially wanting to challenge myself, but also about wanting to continue live theatre in the downtown area.”

A Devil Inside is a story of six people who have seemingly disconnected and very different lives. As the story unfolds and the pieces slowly fall into place, the group finds that their lives are more intertwined than they realize.

“There’s also some absurdity too. There are a lot of feet involved and, of course, references to the devil, which may or may not be featured in the show itself. You’ll have to come to find out,” Long said.

When asked about the show’s aesthetics, Long stated that while she considers herself a maximalist, the script called for the set to not interrupt the flow of the story. “What is really happening is happening more with the characters and the dialogue, and the set is really there to indicate where they are. It’s very minimalist; I would call it utilitarian. There’s a table, and a chair, and sometimes, two chairs.”

A Devil Inside will show at the Strand Theatre, 717 Clay Street, Friday and Saturday at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are available at the box office, 61 Coffee, and here.