This autumn has been a fertile harvest season for those who seek more than the Same Old. SATE Ensemble Theatre’s contribution to Faustival is Doctor Faustus, or the Modern Promethius, John Wolber’s work playing on the kit Marlowe classic.
Wolbers interlaces the centuries-old tale with today. Despite the seeming incongruities, it mostly works. Hearing the words “toxic masculinity” spoken in iambic pentameter could grate on the ear. I found it, and other contemporary working tucked into the script, curiously refreshing. (Yes, a tip of the bottlecap to the old Schweppes ad phrase.)
Dr. Faustus (Ashley Bauman) is a young woman, a physician, philosopher and generally serious person. The time frame is a little hazy – she gets hassled on the street by a couple of louts – wait, that’s far from era-specific – and seems to live with her boyfriend Wagner (Michael Pierce). But being a female physician seems to be pretty unusual; it’s remarked on several times in the early part of the play, As well, the costumes and much of the dialogue have a clear feeling of Elizabethan times.
She’s determined to Do Good at any price and thus somehow trades her immortal soul to the devil and his henchman Mephistophilis. The latter manifests himself in various forms, and she eventually succumbs to the evilness that comes with the infernal territory. The trajectory is so gradual and so carefully played by Bauman that the first incremental steps cause a Wait, what did she just do? moment in the viewer.
Director Ellie Schwetye gives us a strong supporting cast with folks like Joe Hanrahan, Nicole Angeli and Kareem Deanes. Taleesha Caturah is strong as two powerful women Faustus aspires to be, in several senses.
The relatively simple-seeming set by Bess Moynihan works well, assisted by Dominick Ehling’s lights. Delicious, imaginative costuming is the product of Liz Hemming. The Chapel’s challenging acoustics are dealt with by Deames, doubling with sound design, and work better than is sometimes found at this venue.
Overall, a surprisingly satisfying two hours.
Doctor Faustus, or the Modern Prometheus
through November 17, 2018
SATE Ensemble Theatre
The Chapel
6238 Alexander Drive
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