The evening began with a comment that intrigued me, I overheard another audience member saying: ‘Well, as we know Marlowe was the cooler version of Shakespeare.’ I can agree that on a February evening at the Rose Theatre, it certainly was ‘cool’ – I am glad that I wrapped up warm!
Most of us know that 2014 marks the celebration of Shakespeare’s 450th birthday but of course it is also Marlowe’s 450th birthday and this production paid tribute to him.
You are already drawn into the magic of the evening just waiting to go into the space. You have no idea what to expect, but the box office manager discussing the history of the venue and some of the traditions is a wonderful start with virtually all of the audience listening to him.
The performance space is a re-creation of a more contemporary version of a thrust stage, with a small intimate audience, just perfect for a whole school group outing – if you can book before the run ends! I took my seat in the front row, literally feet away from Christopher Staines (Faustus).
The skills he possesses with the simple techniques of pause and direct eye contact are quite mesmerising. This Bristol Old Vic trained actor is really in a league of his own as he takes us single-handedly on a 75-minute journey. The tension he builds and the story he tells with this fantastically abridged script, with help from occasional pre-recorded sound cues, is an excellent example for A-level Edexcel Drama and Theatre Studies students of how you can interpret the text for their own director’s interpretation.
Martin Parr’s portrayal of Doctor Faustus is also testament to the impact of simple yet effective technical elements. The lighting was simply 13 church candles and centre stage was lit with two overhead stage lights with straw coloured gel. The gauze that was ripped down halfway through the performance revealed an eerie backdrop of the Rose’s excavations that were only candlelit. This, combined with the occasional chilling effect of dripping water from the river: all well-linked to the mood of Faustus’ impending doom!
It’s an interesting interpretation that focuses on the text and the protagonist’s journey rather than other theatrical elements. Whether Marlowe is necessarily the ‘cooler’ version of Shakespeare, I’ll leave you to decide!
Image by Robert Piwko Copyright of The-Rose Theatre Trust