Sharky Harkin wagers his soul on Christmas Eve in “The Seafarer,” featuring, from left, Michael Dittman, Jeff Carey, Rue Snyder, Jeff Myers and Thom Bennett, at the Butler Little Theatre.

The mysterious Mr. Lockhart arrives with a warning in “The Seafarer” playing Saturday at the Butler Little Theatre.

The Lab Theatre Project performance group presents Conor McPherson’s Tony Award-winning, supernatural Christmas tale, one of the most awarded modern Irish plays.

“I’m the snake in the garden. I’ve come for your soul this Christmas and I’m going to win and you’re coming through the old hole in the wall with me tonight,” warns Mr. Lockhart.

In the tale, Sharky Harkin has returned home to North Dublin, Ireland, at Christmastime to take care of his brother, Richard.

Richard is a freewheeling soul and an overbearing alcoholic who has recently gone blind. Richard lives to drink, and he urges Sharky to drink as well, even though Sharky has promised himself he would remain sober for the holidays.

The brothers and two of their friends gather on Christmas Eve for a game of poker, and one of the friends brings a newcomer, the elegantly dressed Mr. Lockhart, who turns out to be the Devil himself who has come to bargain for Sharky’s soul.

The play will be staged as reader’s theater, a style in which the actors use only vocal expression to help the audience understand the story rather than visuals such as sets, costumes, intricate blocking or movement.

“The Seafarer” will begin at 7:30 p.m. Saturday at BLT, One Howard St. 

Tickets will be sold at the door for $5. 

Please note, “The Seafarer” contains language and situations that may not be appropriate for all audiences.  

More information about The Lab Theatre Project is available at thelabtheatre.tumblr.com.