Say You Love Satan
Theatre on the Square
Directed by Ron Spencer
Through Feb. 2

“Evil incarnate has a six-pack.”

Who among us doesn’t know this? For that or similarly superficial reasons, we have all dated Satan, or at least one of his close relatives. But few of us can claim to have gotten as intimate with The Beast as Andrew in Say You Love Satan, now playing at Theatre on the Square. Jack, who claims to be Satan’s son (at least he is upfront about it), comes with 666 on his brow (I’ve seen the mind manipulation and icy breath even amongst garden-variety evil boyfriends). As Andrew puts it: “It’s like dating Harry Potter … but hot.”

After an unnecessary but brief club scene and uninspired opening monologue by Andrew, played by Nate Walden, the show settles into a series of great one-liners (Jack, on the idea of being two millennia old: “I’m 30, which I guess in gay years is that old.”) and intriguing characters.

Under Ron Spencer’s direction, Walden nicely settles into Jack as the show progresses, enriching his character by making him more confident and animated. But, as more is revealed about Jack’s character, the less nuanced Patrick Koenig’s performance becomes. While Jack was intriguing as hell (ahem) at first — all sulfur and sex — he seems to lose his enthusiasm in Act 2. The two aren’t a perfect fit — example: Andrew is all about Dostoevsky while Jack is a hard-core clubber — and the actors play off that disparity to create a strange tension in their relationship that pays off at the end.

Erin Cohenour is appropriately gossipy, territorial (read catty) and single as Andrew’s best fag hag Bernadette: “I am a straight woman trapped in a gay occult thriller that is your life.” (Amen, sister.) Joshua Ramsey is the epitome of angelic (but quite mortal) as Andrew’s “not-my-boyfriend” — the too-good-to-be-true type that no one ever feels worthy of: generous, thoughtful, smart and hot. Justin Ivan Brown rounds out the cast, first as Andrew’s ex, Chad, a flamingly gay actor/waiter with an attitude, and later as Raphael, a flamingly gay angel with an attitude.

The backdrop — a burning heart lit with throbbing red light — is an intriguing multipurpose set piece (set design by Spencer, Jim Trofatter and Thomas Turner). The show marks the official opening of Stage 2 with new cabaret seating, so get there early for the best view.

Finally, best line I couldn’t work into this review: “There is a special section of hell reserved for people who work on Disney musicals.”

Say You Love Satan continues through- Feb. 2 at TOTS, 627 Massachusetts Ave. Tickets are $25 ($20 students, seniors and military personnel). Call 317-685-TOTS or go to www.tots.org.