Theater Review - Faust

Faust
Written by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
Adapted by Heinz-Uwe Haus
Directed by Heinz-Uwe Haus
Where: Thompson Theater at the Roselle Center for the Arts
(University of Delaware, Newark, DE)
When:  Sunday, March 23, 2pm

Seeing as how I saw the very last performance of Faust by the University of Delaware's Resident Ensemble Players nearly a month ago, I'm going to make this review short and sweet since, if you're reading this, you'd never get a chance to see this fantastic production of this well-known piece of theater.  With a rather simplistic story -- our title character (played by REP member Stephen Pelinski) makes a deal with the Devil (played by the REP's Mic Matarrese) that in exchange for life's riches and a fulfilling happiness if Faust ever says he's "satisfied" with his life, he will lose his soul and give himself over to the Devil to do his bidding in Hell -- adaptor-director Heinz-Uwe Haus' version of Faust relies on stunning visuals in order to elevate the play to a fantastical level.

Photos by UD REP

Freakish songs, flying angels (and devils), monkeys, large orgies -- this one's got it all.  Visually, I felt as if I was watching some psychedelic mash-up of Roman Polanski's Rosemary's Baby and Ken Russell's The Devils -- and that was a new experience for the REP to present to the public for sure.  Although the stage was often a blank canvas, what Mr. Haus and scenic/lighting designer William Browning brought to the table with yards and yards of simple fabric was incredibly stimulating.

As always, performances were top notch with Pelinski and Matarrese making the most of their roles which, ultimately, were both a little more one-note than I expected thanks to Goethe's characterizations.  This is a little bit surprising in that the character of Faust felt as if he should have a little more depth than the play allows him to have and the Devil was...well...a very obvious representation of the Devil.  Perhaps the reason I ended up feeling this way is because of the absolutely riveting performance of guest actor (and former UD Professional Theater Training Program member) Sara J. Griffin as Gretchen, a young woman whom Faust fancies, falls in love, and ultimately ruins.  Griffin was great in the REP's 2010 production of Our Town and she brings much emotional weight to the initially naive Gretchen.  I found her absolutely captivating whenever she was onstage after making her first appearance in the second act.

With Griffin's great performance, it makes me long for the REP to get back to its roots of a few years ago and welcome a new cast of doe-eyed students into the mix to bring a new perspective to the already fantastic troupe.  I keep hoping to hear an announcement of a new PTTP class, but budgets seem to nix that every year.  Fingers crossed we'll get good news on that front soon.