Prefatory to the outbreak of witchcraft hysteria in Salem in 1692, many similar incidents occurred throughout western Europe, one of the most notorious being a case of demonic possession among a group of Ursuline nuns in Loudon, France. Accusations by the Mother Superior, Jeanne des Anges, that the local priest, Father Urbain Grandier, was bewitching the nuns lead to exorcisms, further denunciations, torture and a trial, after which the priest was burned at the stake (turns out Father Grandier had some enemies who saw an opportunity too good to pass up) .
The story was told by Aldous Huxley in his novel “The Devils of Loudon,” which in turn was adapted into a play and then into a (horrifically lurid) film by Ken Russell.
Now it’s become the subject of a 75-minute one-woman stage work by Carine Montbertrand.
Co-written and directed by Ron Bashford, “Seven Devils and a French Nun” features Montbertrand in a tour-de-force performance as Jeanne des Anges and each of the devils who possessed her.
Shows in Amherst College’s Studio 3 (in Webster Hall) are Friday and Saturday at 8 p.m. and Sunday at 2 p.m. Admission is free; reservations recommended. 542-2277