After hearing of The Most Reluctant Convert: the Untold Story of CS Lewis, especially as a theatrical performance, and then as a film, it made me sit up and take notice. This was when I learned about the Fellowship for Performing Arts (FPA), a non-profit organization that appears to be uniquely "tuned into" C.S. Lewis' legacy with its theatrical plays and re-enactments of the great Englishman's stories.
Having a particular appreciation for Lewis' work and the Scottish fairy tale writer (George MacDonald) who inspired him, I was interested in who brought this into being since film is one thing, but theater is altogether another. It requires a certain attention to detail with theater, especially in regards to bold yet intelligent acting performances, and therefore a scholarly approach to character arcs. So this was immediately attractive since I know that many faith-based works lack that detail required to produce acting with the necessary pathos.
I pray that despite this inadequacy in emotional pathos, due to a thinness in the required work to sufficiently understand character, that this too shall pass. Why does faith-based work lack so much creative juice and passion? It is not a mystery. It is laziness, which theatrical performance generally cannot tolerate.
Then the Christian Post reported on the announcement that Max McLean's The Screwtape Letters, a play that has been on tour off and on since 2006, is also coming to cinemas. The play had many notable reviewers, including The New York Times and The Wall Street Journal to give it resounding applauds.
The Christian Post reports here.
Leah MarieAnn Klett
This is not to be confused with FPA's CS Lewis Film Trilogy, which deals with the three stages of Lewis' life, as mentioned here, all directed by Norman Stone. As you can see, this theater production company is not just a one-off success or an easily sloughed-off candle in the wind– no. I perceive they have much more planned for the future, as well.
People may say, sure it's a play, and maybe there's some performances but, "will it play on the big screen?" I can understand the concern, but this isn't really about one successful film or play– it's about an entire talent incubator that happens on a local stage, which is powerful enough to inspire film investors to invest in the (even more) risky business of filmmaking. That is no small thing.
But can it influence the culture? I'd say yes. Yes, I think so. And even more importantly, they know that culture is a conversation. For people who are smart enough to know that, they watch these trends in culture, by hanging around at the water coolers to know and participate in these cultural trends.
Speaking of this apparent "theater trend" coming to film, I think that will happen with or without the doubters, but what I find somewhat surprising is that not just film (which is quite liberal in it's representation), but also the theater (which can be even more aimlessly atheist and liberal) is making a resurgence into the direction of faith-based content. And yet, this theater company that often hosts Max McLean's work, the Fellowship for the Performing Arts, is a decidedly Christian organization.
But are they alone in this quest? Absolutely not. Small and large theaters around the country, while still being few & far between in comparison to the secular stages, are growing. We have previously mentioned Sight & Sound Theater (mentioned here) which produced the highly acclaimed film I Heard the Bells, has been operating in a productive haze, making one magnificent stage play after another for the past few years, similarly to the FPA.
Jon Croft
There are also smaller stages like The Logos Theater, run by the Academy of the Arts (in Taylor, SC) as well, that continue to produce faith-based production one after another. The Logos is even producing a The Lion, The Witch, & The Wardrobe production that is being shown at the Museum of the Bible in DC this fall. They do this after doing a Pilgrim's Progress play and other productions that have often gained praise for their increasing passion in recreating these beautiful works.
But Logos has not yet been able to venture into film yet, the way The FPA and Sight & Sound have. Film is after all, a risky business with often risk-averse marketing and investor types that want to stay laser focused on their demographic. There is no guarantee that a film release will be successful, even after the story and the technicals are all perfect, then the marketing can botch the distribution in some way, losing millions in the process.
Check out The FPA here, which can give you an idea at the scope of these productions.
Even The FPA made some mistakes with The Most Reluctant Convert, such as the showing of a behind-the-scenes promo along with the film in theaters. And in terms of the storytelling, the classic stage-to-screen blunder of too many "tell-don't-show" monologues happened as well. But, these mistakes were actually minimal compared to some works that do far worse.
That said, this concern may remain in audiences who end up being the "Most Relucatant Ticketbuyers" to see Screwtape, despite they themselves being the best demographic to see this new work. I'd say give it a chance!
What I hope McLean can accomplish is a correction into more of the visual "show-don't-tell" aspect that typically makes up good cinema, but regardless of this, if cinema is not his forte the theater still beckons, and theater may be what he continues to do in order to best imprint the legacy of Lewis onto the public consciousness.
Tickets for their nationwide Screwtape Letters tour can be acquired below. Limited engagements only.
Considering how well the play was received, we hope the film is just as well received. Maybe "The Cosmic Trilogy" is soon to follow.
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Did you enjoy this trip into stage-to-screen projects from 'The FPA' to 'Sight & Sound' to 'The Logos Theater.' Let us know what you think about FPA's past and future work, and if you think they'll do a good job on Screwtape! Comment down below (with sub) or on our social media!
Max McLean, Director of 'The Most Reluctant Convert' To Bring Lewis' 'Screwtape' to Screen https://t.co/szbHDjnoxC
— Media Moses (@themediamoses) June 13, 2025
