"Dr Faustus" - Marlowe (11) (Act 1)

In this lesson we staged the majority of Act One and came up with more ideas for our version of "Faustus" as we went along. 

We haven't staged our prologue yet, but below are the ideas we had for it:

• Circus introduction --> Glamorous introduction making the Faustus' life look like an entertaining story. We could make the circus opening very over-the-top to form a contrast to the dark story Faustus has to tell. 
• Sins --> As there are seven of us, we could all be a different sin and create a movement based prologue. We could all be the sins we lead in the sin section (i.e. Robert starts and finishes the Wrath section so he could be wrath for the prologue) - however, for Rhiannon and Charlie, as they have two sins, they could give one of their sins to Lewis and Oliver. This section could be a movement section and we could all embody our chosen sins. The idea of the section would be to draw the audience in and then they would later realise that they have been drawn in by the sins, as it were.
• Random positions --> We could all be in random positions in the hall (some of us clearly visible to the audience and making them feel uncomfortable and others hidden from the audience). We wouldn't speak and would instead just stare at them and make them feel uncomfortable. This would break the fourth wall and enhance the relationship between audience and actors. This therefore makes our prologue the style of Artaud as he believed in enhancing this relationship and making the audience feel uncomfortable and not know how to react - they have no choice but to be involved (this is Theatre of Cruelty). We could then introduce Faustus. He could walk on and we could move around him and then "disappear". 

We also discussed the pros and cons of performing in a few different locations. We decided on the hall in the end:

•  Sports Hall --> Pros: Has a climbing frame we can use to create more levels and an intimidating feel with. We could also use the ropes to hang and swing on. // Cons: Can't have a complete black out. Not many plug sockets so lighting would be limited.
• C5 (drama studio) --> Pros: Can have a complete blackout. Can use the LED lights. // Cons: Not much opportunity for levels. Limited for space.
• Hall --> Pros: Can use a variety of different lights. Can use the stage and the floor to create levels. Not limited in terms of space. Many opportunities for entrances and exits. Can hide around without being noticed. Can use the space underneath the stage and come up through the trap door, or through the front of the stage. // Cons: Can't have a complete black out.

 The additional staging decisions we made throughout Act One were as follows:

• (4) Book: instead of having "snap shots of Faustus in different areas of stage being guided and taught by Valdes and Cornelius", we thought of having a book being delivered to Faustus which he has to sign for and begins reading. We thought this as Cornelius, Valdes and Faustus aren't in the same location and have just had a phone call, so them suddenly appearing and then being back on the phone wouldn't make much sense.
• (6) Pentagram: One idea for when Faustus "draws [the] pentagram" was to have in pre-drawn on a rolled up rug, which Faustus then rolls out. However, this would mean more space taken up in the performance space and would be a tripping hazard for the intense physical theatre sections. Another idea was to have Faustus draw it on the floor with chalk or paint; however it is difficult to draw things perfectly on the floor with speed. Therefore, we decided that Faustus would use chalk and draw it on a flat positioned behind his desk. This would mean that it wouldn't take up any additional space where we would be performing and it is easy to draw. 
• (6) Gromalot: To create an unsettling atmosphere and to build tension, we decided that the chorus would whisper underneath Faustus' Latin monologue using the Commedia dell'arte technique of Gromalot. The whispers would then gradually get louder. We would start the whispers off with one person, and people join in. Whilst this happens, we discussed us all moving in to form a shape (with Lewis hidden amongst it). When Faustus the commands Mephistopheles to "return in some other form, a shape, a shape more familiar to the eyes of man", the chorus would all move away in a smooth transitions (e.g. rolls) to reveal Lewis standing centre. 
• (7) Mephistopheles:  We thought it would be nice if Mephistopheles was more relaxed to make Faustus seem even madder. Mephistopheles could be so relaxed that he goes and sits on Faustus' chair with his feet on the desk.
• (8) Mephistopheles: When Faustus questions if he should "turn back before the pact is made" we thought Mephistopheles could be sitting on the desk eating an apple. This would represent Adam eating the apple from the Garden of Eden and so would represent temptation. 
• (10) Sound: Charlie came up with the idea of having a pulsing harmonic bass hum sound effect (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dhzdyw0rwbo) playing underneath the section where Faustus signs the contract. This would build tension and foreshadow what is to come to Faustus due to him signing this contract. 
• (10) Movement: When Mephistopheles introduces the chorus' movement section as a "feast for [Faustus'] eyes", we considered having a brief version of the sin movement section (i.e. a short section of freeze frames from each sin moulded together with smooth transitions to create a short seamless section) as this shows Faustus what is to come having signed the contract. 

What we have to work on from this lesson:

• Choral speaking
• Pace and tempo
• Characterisation
• Prologue
• Final decisions on things we have merely discussed