The University of Winnipeg Department of Theatre and Film’s 2009-10 season continues November 24 to 28, 2009 with a powerful, fantastical re-vision of Christopher Marlowe’s Doctor Faustus that we’re calling faust(us): a fantasy. The play will be directed by faculty member Christopher Brauer, and performed by the Fourth-Year Honours Acting Style & Genre class with technical support from the Department’s design and production students.
Marlowe’s unusual play focuses on Doctor John Faustus – one of the original anti-heroes – and his search for knowledge at any cost. It is a cautionary tale, warning against the blind pursuit of knowledge when faced with unknowable consequences. Despite its archaic language, the play feels timely – urgent, even – as we stand at the beginning of an age in our own history when we will reap the unforeseen consequences of progress.
faust(us): a fantasy follows the title character from the moment he decides to raise the Devil in order to help him pursue the acquisition of absolute, magical power, to the moment twenty-four years later when the Devil comes to take his due. Over the course of the story, though, he achieves nothing of particular greatness, preferring to perform parlour tricks for the Emperor, and causing impish mischief in the Vatican, acts which feed his ego and bring him personal gain, but which distract him from the lofty goals he set out to achieve. The play also treats the audience to one of the greatest monologues ever written:
“Was this the face that launched a thousand ships . . . ”
“We decided to supplement Marlowe’s text with some scenes from Goethe’s Faust,” says director Christopher Brauer. “This increases the emotional impact of Faustus’ fall from grace and really puts a human face on his corruption. The story is told in episodes: each scene leads to the next, but in a way that utterly disregards unity, leaving them to float on their own a bit. As a result, we approached each scene as a separate, independent play. We tackled character development with Brecht in mind, staging the play entirely naturalistically, and then developed the characters based on Pachenko clown techniques. Using this physical work, we then went back and `demonstrated’ the naturalistic staging we began with. The results are fabulously provocative.”
This production presents exciting challenges for every area of study within the department. Thirty-seven costumes are being built by the costuming class for the nine-actor cast. The play is set in dozens of different locations, demanding a student-built set that is flexible and can represent the cosmic arena to which Faustus aspires. This also requires a lighting design that can reinforce the tone of each scene and can create multiple locations, in part achieved through the use of dozens of front and rear projections. faust(us): a fantasy is truly an ensemble effort.
Set design is by David Hewlett with costume design by Sean McMullen and lighting design by Jason Robbins.
Performances are Tuesday, November 24 through Saturday, November 28 at 7:30 p.m. nightly, at the Gas Station Theatre, 445 River Avenue.
Admission is free but reservations are recommended. Please call our 24-hour Reservation and Information Line at 204.786.9152, or visit The University of Winnipeg’s Department of Theatre and Film.
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Based in its new home in the Canwest Centre for Theatre and Film at The University of Winnipeg, the Department of Theatre and Film offers areas of study in Acting, Design, Drama in Education, Filmmaking, Playwriting, and Production/Stage Management. Our classes are small and our approach is practical. Our faculty is comprised of highly respected and award-winning professionals who are experienced teachers and remain active in their disciplines, bringing relevant and up-to-date instruction to our students.
For more information, please contact:
Patty Hawkins 204.786.9955
p.hawkins@uwinnipeg.ca
Christopher Brauer 204.786.9006
c.brauer@uwinnipeg.ca
Department of Theatre and Film
