# The Exorcist (play)

The Exorcist is a play by John Pielmeier based on the novel of the same name by William Peter Blatty and is part of The Exorcist franchise. The story revolves around a young girl, Regan MacNeil, who is possessed by a demonic spirit. Her mother, Chris, seeks out to the church to perform an exorcism.

## Production history

In February 2008, American playwright John Pielmeier expressed an interest in adapting William Peter Blatty's novel of the same name into a play and soon met with Blatty. He then began working on a script for the play, in which the first draft was completed in ten days.

### Los Angeles premiere (2012)

The play had its world premiere at the Gil Gates Theater at the Geffen Playhouse in Los Angeles from July 3 until August 12, 2012. It was directed by John Doyle, designed by Scott Pask, lighting design by Jane Cox, sound design by Dan Moses Schreier with music by Sir John Tavener. Teller (of magicians Penn & Teller) served as a creative consultant. The production starred Brooke Shields as Chris, Richard Chamberlain as Father Merrin and David Wilson Barnes as Father Damien.

### UK productions (2016–19)
#### Birmingham (2016)

In 2016 the play made its UK premiere at the Birmingham Repertory Theatre, produced in association with Bill Kenwright (by arrangement with Ben Sprecher and Stuart Snyder) and ran from 21 October to 5 November. The production was directed by Sean Mathias, designed by Anna Fleischle, lighting design by Tim Mitchell, music and sound design by Adam Cork, video and projection design by Duncan McLean with illusions by Ben Hart. The cast featured Jenny Seagrove as Chris, Peter Bowles as Father Merrin, Adam Garcia as Father Damien and Clare Louise Connolly as Regan. Sir Ian McKellen provided the pre-recorded voice of the demon.

#### West End (2017–18)

The Birmingham production transferred to the Phoenix Theatre in London's West End from 20 October 2017 for a strictly limited run until 10 March 2018. Seagrove, Bowles, Garcia, and Connolly returned to production with the majority of the Birmingham cast.

#### UK and Ireland tour (2019)

Following the London run, a UK and Ireland tour began in September 2019 at the Theatre Royal, Windsor before touring to the Theatre Royal, Glasgow, New Wimbledon Theatre, Regent Theatre, Stoke-on-Trent, Milton Keynes Theatre, The Alexandra, Birmingham, Opera House Manchester, Gaiety Theatre, Dublin, King's Theatre, Edinburgh, Eden Court Theatre, Inverness and His Majesty's Theatre, Aberdeen. The production starred Sophie Ward as Chris and Paul Nicholas as Merrin.

## Characters and cast

| Character | Los Angeles | Birmingham | West End | UK and Ireland tour |
| Character | 2012 | 2016 | 2017 | 2019 |
| Chris MacNeil | Brooke Shields | Jenny Seagrove | Jenny Seagrove | Sophie Ward |
| Father Merrin | Richard Chamberlain | Peter Bowles | Peter Bowles | Paul Nicholas |
| Father Damien Karras | David Wilson Barnes | Adam Garcia | Adam Garcia | Ben Caplan |
| Regan MacNeil | Emily Yetter | Clare Louise Connolly | Clare Louise Connolly | Susannah Edgley |
| Doctor Strong | Stephen Bogardus | Todd Boyce | Todd Boyce | Stephen Billington |
| Doctor Klein | Tom Neils | Mitchell Mullen | Mitchell Mullen | Patrick Toomey |
| Father Joe | Manoel Felciano | Joseph Wilkins | Elliot Harper | Joseph Wilkins |
| Burke Dennings | Harry Groener | Tristram Wymark | Tristram Wymark | Tristram Wymark |
| The Demon | — | Ian McKellen (voice) | Ian McKellen (voice) | Ian McKellen (voice) |
| Carla | Roslyn Ruff | — | — | — |

## Critical reception

The Los Angeles production received mixed reviews from the critics, but the audiences responded enthusiastically. Due to this, Pielmeier has stated that he has made a major re-write on the script in preparation for a second production.
Birmingham and West End production received mixed to positive reviews from the critics and audiences.