The Devil's Chair
Summary
Host Fred Greenholz presents "The Devil's Chair," a horror-comedy story by Maeve de Bruyne. The narrative follows Dervla Ash, a struggling comedian who makes a pact with the devil for fame after a tragic accident involving a rival. She achieves stardom but descends into madness, trapped in an eternal, solitary performance where her audience is never truly real.
Topics discussed
Sponsor message from Accenture
Introduction to the Dark Tome and Undertow
Dervla Ash's opening monologue and childhood
Irish heritage, 'notions', and the crab bucket
The grind of stand-up comedy and dental issues
Meeting the stranger with the dog Ruth on the beach
The Devil's Chair legend and local folklore
The stranger's unsettling appearance and departure
Life in the crumbling hotel and cabaret routine
The entertainment officer and the magician
Past relationships and isolation on the road
Mentoring Aisling, the new Irish comedian
Jealousy as Aisling outshines Dervla
Confrontation with management and the drive home
Verbal abuse of Aisling and childhood trauma flashback
The deal with the Devil at the cemetery
Aisling's disappearance and Dervla's sudden success
The hollow reality of fame and the final show
Credits, Undertow promotion, and Glass Cannon outro
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