Staging Dr Faustus

Staging Faustus in the Caccia, I would retain the contemporary setting of the play and employ sparse scenery around the space. The two angels would appear on opposite ends of the balcony, speaking as it were, from either of Faustus shoulders.

7 DEADLY SINS
As the scene starts Faustus would sit himself in a chair beneath the balcony. The 7 deadly sins would not actually be played by actors in my production but they would be presented as hideously caricatured masks leering from the dark beneath the balcony, and around Faustus head. Discordant, carnival music would play all the while through, and the masks would jostle, cackling, and squealing between each others speeches. Throughout the Sins speeches Faustus twists and turns and reaches out from his chair trying to touch or reach out to the puppets but they always evade him, until as Lechery finishes its lines they crowd Faustus and he writhes in joy, caressing and embracing the sins. However before hand, as Envy finishes its lines vile claw like puppets would reach out, scratching and caressing Faustus face; cuing his line Away, envious Whilst all this is occurring the lights remain solely on Faustus and the puppets, however a low red glow suffuses the balcony and Lucifer, Mephistopheles, and Beelzebub can be just about made out. Similarly, actors dressed all in black would be stationed all around the edge of the stage and in front of the audience, standing like shadows at the sides.

PAPAL SCENE
Throughout the Papal scene, between the scripted directions, Faustus would be playful, childlike, throwing fruit pips at the Pope s retinue; tapping them on the shoulder only disappear as they turn round; pulling off their trousers and such like. Faustus should be dressed as normal however after Lorraine s comment he picks up the banquet table cloth, spilling its contents on the floor, and flings it over himself in the very manner of a ghost. Each time he takes a dish or the cup he spends the next few moments nonchalantly eating it and flinging bits at the friars. When the friar speaks alone, I would have instead the entire retinue chorus the line whilst shaking their heads in unison, similar in manner to a pantomime. As the friars search each time Faustus would walk among them; pulling their hair; kicking their bottoms; pushing them over and generally causing problems. As the Pope crosses himself Faustus would flinch plainly and begin to become angered before calming and seizing the pope s hands from behind him and making the pope slap himself repeatedly across the face. Throughout this folly Mephistopheles stands by calmly and mutely without as much as a move. However as the friars enter singing their dirge Faustus walks with them as they troop round the room singing, mimicking their every move and pretending to sing ostentatiously, Mephistopheles

fails to control himself and joins in. As they fling the fire-works the lights would flash on and off to Mephistopheles and Faustus skipping, doubled up with laughter, off the stage beneath the balcony.

HELEN OF TROY
Helen would of course be beautiful in the play; however, she would be beautiful in a sinful, over sexualised way rather than the classical sense. She would be dressed very similarly to a burlesque dancer and would arrive from beneath the balcony from between a pair of large feathers. Strutting towards Faustus in high heels and essentially lingerie she would present the overtly sexual side of beauty rather than the pure chaste beauty which Hell is unable to produce. Hidden behind her as she walks toward us a devil s tail comes into view as she turns Faustus to the side and kisses him. The pair would exit separately to Mephistopheles with Helen pulling off his clothes and coaxing him through a door.

FAUSTUS LAST SPEECH

For his final speech Faustus would be presented alone on the stage with a spotlight and a red glow. Starting off low and feverishly the general tone of his speech rises and rises throughout. As he cries for one drop of Christ s blood he throws himself to his knees and the Pope walks solemnly from the side to pour communion wine slowly, just beyond the touch of Faustus lips. As he calls to be hidden he cowers behind his chair; turns to scrabbling at the ground with his fingers as he implores the earth to open; and jumps and hangs from the balcony trying to pull himself up as he asks to be taken up into the clouds. He picks up a book from the table as he talks about Pythagoras but flings it aside as he realises its uselessness. Finally his agitation appears to abate and resignation creep in, until the clock strikes 12 and his panic reaches a peak as he sobs and throws himself around the room in the midst of hosts of devils who toss him between them in flashing lights and rumbling thunder. At the very end Faustus is borne out in an obscene parody of the funeral procession, carried by 6 devils, followed behind by Mephistopheles and Lucifer as the mourners.