Steppenwolf Theatre Company Blog – Chicago Theater, World-Class Ensemble

Frequently during post-show discussions the character name Mr. Lockhart is brought up. It is a name that suggests a connotation – lock-heart. That connotation further resonates with death (a locked or non-functioning heart) as well as a heart that has ceased to love or is incapable of loving.

This name is particularly apt since Mr. Lockhart is the devil incarnate – his heart, once full of love for God as the Archangel Lucifer, has now been locked. He has fallen from heaven, or rather been cast out, as a result of sinful pride. He resents deeply God’s love of mortals because he once knew it himself.

Mr. Lockhart is also deeply disturbed by music. It seems to painfully grate on him when a Christmas CD is played. He recalls the music of heaven in a description to Sharky:

“At a certain point each day music plays. It seems to emanate from the very sun itself. Not so much a tune as a heartbreakingly beautiful vibration in the sunlight shining down on and through all the souls. A blanket of clear, almost unthinkable, harmonies.”

This is the music that the devil knew once and is now incapable of hearing. His hearing, his heart, is locked to it.

When, at the end of the play, Sharky’s heart opens – or is unlocked – it is accompanied by music from a CD being played onstage. The CD was a Christmas gift to Sharky from a woman who has feelings for him, but from whom Sharky has run away. The song is called “Sweet Little Mystery” by British singer-songwriter John Martyn. Sharky’s heart is opened by the music as well as the accompanying note from the woman. Sun shines through the window, on and through his soul, to the strains of the song . . .

“It’s not the letters that you just don’t write
It’s not the arms of some new friend
It’s not the crying in the depth of the night
That keeps me hanging on, just waiting for the end.

It’s that sweet little mystery that’s in your heart
It’s just that sweet little mystery that makes me cry
Oh that sweet little mystery that’s in your heart
It’s just that sweet little mystery that makes me try.”

This entry was posted by David New on Friday, January 30th, 2009 at 12:57 pm and is filed under The Seafarer. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed.