13. Faust again...
G's Faust Part 2 - The Royal Lyceum 23/03/2006.
I have been putting off finishing this, partly because I wasn't well and also because I didn't feel confident to say anything productive on this subject. It is almost as if I missed the first half because of the criticisms and limitations that are common whenever someone tries to make the second part digestable for the after dinner theatre crowd.
The problem was that the second part of Faust was obviously an interpretation and as I was unfamiliar with the original, I was unsure of how to proceed.Certainly I thought the acting was far better. Perhaps wearing colourful reproductions of ancient greek theatre helped centre the actors and allow them to project far better? Perhaps the more philosophical dialogues and metaphysical references meant that their "stagey" acting was more at home? Perhaps leaving behind the more fam
iliar part of the story allowed the audience to enjoy the performance without dragging the usual cultural baggage that might have hindered enjoying part one? Perhaps my over the counter medication was finally kicking in? Whatever the reason I thought part two was very good. For the first time I noticed Douglas Rankine, physically tall and strong looking his broad voice could really command the stage despite his secondary roles. Sometimes it seemed like he was trying to shout his way to the front but when he was allowed to break away from the chorus and say something himself, he was good. Unfortunately this style was quite different from the rest and I think suffered because of this. Aaron Shirley had an interesting voice, while the two primary actors were able to evoke pathos or humour out of their lines with ease. Thus Rankine looked like all he had was his height when he played across from them.
It was certainly more "philosophical" and touched upon ideas concerning gender and human purpose but I left feeling that it would have been better to have read the original text and that this interpretation might have left out much of the more meaty concepts. So thats something for the "to do" list.
Afterwards I listened for a bit to some of the inane comments from the rest of the audience; "It's about life and death" Said one Lady. "I think Goethe speaks to our modern times and I think..." Mentioned one Man before being cut off by his female companion, "But he's not as good as Shakespeare!" "Oh, No. He's not as good as THE BARD!" The way he referred to Shakespeare as the bard in the same way and tone that some people call Adolph Hitler as "Die Furher" for some sort of effect. I was more than happy to escape this hubbub of inanity and rush home back to blankets, drowsy cough syrups and a gas fire.
At this point was going to go on about Goethe and offer up some sort of mini
biography but then I realized that there are so many out there in Internet Land that it wasn't worth the bother. It would only make me feel smug and probably generate derision from anyone who accidentally came across the site. But I would suggest that one do seek further information on this pillar of Western culture and I think the public should be far more familiar with his works than they currently are today. All in all I enjoyed the production.
Today I received my Festival guide offering up all manner of cultural goodies to fritter my money on so that I can feel superior and all intellectual. Actually there are a number of things that look interesting and past experience has taught that tickets are still available until fairly late so I can save up and try and move a few seats up market.
I have been putting off finishing this, partly because I wasn't well and also because I didn't feel confident to say anything productive on this subject. It is almost as if I missed the first half because of the criticisms and limitations that are common whenever someone tries to make the second part digestable for the after dinner theatre crowd.
The problem was that the second part of Faust was obviously an interpretation and as I was unfamiliar with the original, I was unsure of how to proceed.Certainly I thought the acting was far better. Perhaps wearing colourful reproductions of ancient greek theatre helped centre the actors and allow them to project far better? Perhaps the more philosophical dialogues and metaphysical references meant that their "stagey" acting was more at home? Perhaps leaving behind the more fam
iliar part of the story allowed the audience to enjoy the performance without dragging the usual cultural baggage that might have hindered enjoying part one? Perhaps my over the counter medication was finally kicking in? Whatever the reason I thought part two was very good. For the first time I noticed Douglas Rankine, physically tall and strong looking his broad voice could really command the stage despite his secondary roles. Sometimes it seemed like he was trying to shout his way to the front but when he was allowed to break away from the chorus and say something himself, he was good. Unfortunately this style was quite different from the rest and I think suffered because of this. Aaron Shirley had an interesting voice, while the two primary actors were able to evoke pathos or humour out of their lines with ease. Thus Rankine looked like all he had was his height when he played across from them.It was certainly more "philosophical" and touched upon ideas concerning gender and human purpose but I left feeling that it would have been better to have read the original text and that this interpretation might have left out much of the more meaty concepts. So thats something for the "to do" list.
Afterwards I listened for a bit to some of the inane comments from the rest of the audience; "It's about life and death" Said one Lady. "I think Goethe speaks to our modern times and I think..." Mentioned one Man before being cut off by his female companion, "But he's not as good as Shakespeare!" "Oh, No. He's not as good as THE BARD!" The way he referred to Shakespeare as the bard in the same way and tone that some people call Adolph Hitler as "Die Furher" for some sort of effect. I was more than happy to escape this hubbub of inanity and rush home back to blankets, drowsy cough syrups and a gas fire.
At this point was going to go on about Goethe and offer up some sort of mini
biography but then I realized that there are so many out there in Internet Land that it wasn't worth the bother. It would only make me feel smug and probably generate derision from anyone who accidentally came across the site. But I would suggest that one do seek further information on this pillar of Western culture and I think the public should be far more familiar with his works than they currently are today. All in all I enjoyed the production.Today I received my Festival guide offering up all manner of cultural goodies to fritter my money on so that I can feel superior and all intellectual. Actually there are a number of things that look interesting and past experience has taught that tickets are still available until fairly late so I can save up and try and move a few seats up market.
posted by Laclos at 6:30 pm
