In a review that was published in The Tennessean on May 31, 2014, Amy Stumpfl wrote that the world premiere of the Blackbird Theater stage adaptation of Roger’s Version “captures Updike’s intoxicating brand of intellectualism and moral ambiguity with aplomb.

“Written and directed by Blackbird Artistic Director Wes Driver, this engrossing adaptation pits a self-satisfied divinity professor named Roger Lambert against Dale Kohler—an evangelical grad student who believes he can prove God’s existence through computer science. . . .

“Fairly heady stuff, to be sure. But don’t be intimidated by all the intellectual wordplay. Like most of Updike’s work, ‘Roger’s Version’ is firmly rooted in the physical world, taking on everyday issues of professional rivalry, resentment, sexual urges and marital discord.”

Here’s the full review. Below are photos of David Compton as Roger and Kristopher Wente as Dale, Wente with Corrie Miller (Esther Lambert) and Amanda Card, “the unlikely object of Roger’s guilty lust.” The photos come courtesy of Greg Greene, Managing Director for the Blackbird Theater.