C.S. Lewis On Stage: Further Up & Further In

Max McLean brings C.S. Lewis On Stage: Further Up & Further In to the Dee and Charles Wyly Theatre on Saturday, October 31. It's a one-man show that starts with Lewis's own words and builds into a multimedia theatrical event, tracing the life of one of the last century's most influential thinkers.

If you've read Lewis but don't know much about the man behind the books, this is where it fills in the gaps. The show looks at what convinced him of the divinity of Christ, and why the BBC gave him such a huge audience for the wartime talks that later became Mere Christianity. It also touches on how Hitler influenced The Screwtape Letters, and how his insights on prayer, heaven, and the Second Coming shaped The Chronicles of Narnia. It's less of a straightforward biography and more of a look at the specific things that shaped his most famous work.

McLean carries the whole thing himself, and it's billed as his tour de force. The performance runs 90 minutes with no intermission, so you're in for the full stretch without a break. It's recommended for ages 13 and older, and children under 4 aren't admitted. After the show, there's a post-show discussion with McLean, which is a good chance to ask questions or hear more about the production.

The show is at the Wyly Theatre, 2400 Flora Street in Dallas, and runs from 4 PM on October 31 to 4:30 PM on November 1. General admission is $69.25.