The music began with an incongruous electronic R2D2 noise into which slowly slipped blues riffs. After bringing the blues in, they launched into the Howling Wolf classic “Evil”, while the older Smokestage G (played by guitarist, musical director and composer Tomás Doncker) narrated the story of his younger self, Smoke, having made “a deal.”

The younger Smoke (played by Charles Hudson III) had made a deal, and was looking for a way out of it. He spoke to Mephi, the Devil (played by Diomargy Nunez). Her terms to release him required Smoke to procure a “pure soul” to accept a deal of her own. This brought Emma (played by Lizzy Brooks) into the story: a pure soul, churchgoing young woman trapped in a dysfunctional family, and an abusive step father named Sarge. Smoke seduces her with a rap about being a producer, and lures her into dreams of stardom.

At church, one of Emma’s fellow churchgoers died. In the spirit/afterlife, she told Emma to enjoy life and live righteously.

Smoke confers with Mephi again, to find a way to get Emma’s soul. Mephi advises him to give her hope; and grease her dreams (“like I did with you”). Smoke lures her to a club and she’s exposed to the blues; and the cast does an erotic version of “Wang Dang Doodle.” After the song has its desired effect on Emma,  Smoke introduces her to the blues singer, whose performance she just watched. The singer gives her a hard time, saying she doesn’t have what it takes. Soon, Emma discovers, to her surprise, that this blues singer is her long lost mother.

Ema goes through a crisis; her insecurities eat away at her. Smoke sees this as the opportunity to “seal the deal.” And she agrees. She wants to sing and be a star

When we next see Ema, she’s hoochied out.  No longer wearing little girl churchgoer apparel, she’s attired in skin tight clothes that expose her womanly shape and insinuate promises of sexual adventures. She finds herself in a cutting contest with some other divas, and proves herself to be equal to the task of singing with them. She joins a girl group and goes on tour. Emma and Smoke end up in a romantic relationship. The devil doesn’t like this, but Smoke convinces her that she’ll get Ema’s soul in the end.

Emma and her group are getting famous – and end up having a cat fight that breaks up the group. Emma decides to go solo; but the live between her and Smoke grows, and Smoke lures her closer to the deal. But Smoke is having second thoughts. And Emma prays for the first time in a long time.

Then Mephi appears, and, maneuvering around Smoke, offers Emma the deal. She exposes the deal she and Smoke had, including how Smoke had manipulated her; and Emma abandons him and makes the deal.

So, essentially, the devil has them both.

Emma is propelled to stardom. She’s happy. But during a visit home, she runs into her mother, who by this time is a ruinous derelict. She admonishes Emma for making a deal. But she rejects her mother’s admonishment and insists upon enjoying her stardom.

But then, all too soon, Mephi comes to collect.

Anything I say after this point will be a spoiler. Suffice it to say that the end may not be what you expect it to be. There could be one or two surprises you didn’t see coming.

I will offer this, however. After the cast takes their bows, they launch into a heavy gospel about taking Satan’s kingdom down. They ended with “Backdoor Man”.

One of the aspects of the art of acting is the ability to make the audience believe the character is who/what the story says they are. It is an art form that creates an illusion, almost a parable, that serves a larger story. And in theater, they must project this to an audience from a distance, without the amplification that film offers. Everyone in the cast presented a brilliant performance. Doncker, for example, looked, acted, and spoke every part the elder blues man as the older Smokestage G who looks back on his life with regret. This, while also holding up the duties of singer, guitarist, and band leader/musical director. An impressive accomplishment. Brooks’ portrayal of Ema was marvelous. The audience witnessed a very believable transformation from innocent, pure girl to jaded, arrogant, world beaten hoyden who’d traded her soul for a moment in the spotlight. Hudson’s portrayal of Smoke (the younger) was excellent. His transformation from despicable hustler, to a man in love, to a man full of regrets with his back against the wall was also very believable.

Everyone in the cast offered an equally professional performance.

The music was spot on, transitioning seamlessly from scene to scene and style to style. All the musicians in the group played the music as it needed to be played. I must also point out that, in addition to band members Mike Faulkner (drums, vocals), and Josh David (bass, vocals); keyboardist Nick Rolfe also played Ema’s evil stepfather Sarge, and harmonica player David Barnes also played The Reverend.

The story behind Diablo Love is as old as the blues itself – and older still, before humanity had this thing we call the blues.  It is difficult to find new ways to tell these stories. But it is essential that they are told, and retold for each succeeding generation.

Diablo Love told the story well.