Brett Bailey reads a devilish road trip tale

Christopher Brett Bailey presented a live reading of his surreal 2023 novella at Soho Theatre, London. The performance, described as a free-wheeling piece of storytelling, plunges into extreme vice, erotic tension, and dulled indifference.

Bailey's narrative follows a man on an accidental road trip across modern America with a devilish companion. This Satan is depicted as a has-been conspiracy theorist with an inflated ego, adding a layer of dark humor to the tale. The performance is characterized by Bailey's unique vocalizations and the eerie shift in lighting that enhances the dramatic effect.

While the story occasionally meanders, Bailey's intense delivery and the fable's flaming end provide a memorable experience. The novella reading is noted for its vivid imagery and the uncanny shift as the lighting transforms the performer's appearance. It's presented as an adult bedtime story, driven by the strangeness of Bailey's character portrayals.