Doctor Faustus DVD

Stage on Screen presents a Greenwich Theatre production of Dr Faustus by Christopher Marlowe. Using the unabridged A text version of the play, this lucid, stylish and energetic production captures perfectly both the horror and dark humour of Marlowe's tragic work. "Atmospheric... diabolically convincing...flashes of fiery poetry...directed with laudable clarity" Time Out. THE STAGE REVIEW I've never been very happy about films of plays shot in theatres during live performances because they are usually too static to make the best use of film and the sound is rarely... satisfactory. Stage on Screen's DVD of Greenwich Theatre's November 2009 production of Doctor Faustus, however, confounded all my negative expectations because it is extremely watchable and really does give you the best of both worlds - the advantage of close-up shots and the sense of being at a live performance. Gareth Kennerley is magnificent in the huge role of Doctor Faustus, taking the character adeptly from casual, confident academic to the depths of manic despair. I loved Beatrice Curnew's gravelly, unequivocal delivery of the Chorus part and Tim Treloar gets the balance between disingenuous humour and ruthlessness just right in Mephistopheles. Guy Burgess is good value as Wagner and some of the ensemble work in depicting all those sins is very fine. The climax is compelling - even on a small screen. It was, evidently, impeccably directed by Elizabeth Freestone and imaginatively filmed by outside broadcaster Chris Cowey. And I need not have worried about the sound. It is well balanced and fully audible. Optional full-text subtitles (including simple stage directions such as 'Faustus shrieks') will help anyone new to the play as well as deaf and hard of hearing viewers. Susan Elkin, Education Editor [show more]

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