Ridley’s unforgettable Faustus ends with a bang
Darkness and smoke overtook Ridley College’s stage in its recent production of “The Tragical History of Doctor Faustus.”
Pulling inspiration from the setting of an eerie carnival, the boundaries of humanity and morality were explored. Faustus, a young and brilliant scholar, quickly turns toward darkness, selling his soul to the devil for a taste of true knowledge and power. Not the only one tempted by dark motives, watch as everyone from stable hands to the pope display their tendency to give into the destructive temptations of corruption. Raising important questions about good and evil in the world as a whole, and in one's own life, “The Tragical History of Doctor Faustus” is not a show to be forgotten.
Ridley College’s talented cast and crew embraced the dark subject matter, throwing themselves into the performance, creating a thought provoking and moving piece. Premiering this musical, Ridley put its own spin on a classic tale that reinforced the stirring themes that remain so relevant through time. Each song was gracefully executed with competent vocals and remarkable choreography, taking the show to a new and original level. With an extensive cast of over 40 students, the company worked well together, successfully constructing a chilling mood that captivated the audience while still maintaining lighter moments of comic relief.
Kibati Tomiwa Femi-Johnson as Faustus gave a standout performance, bringing raw emotion to the stage, and powerfully manifesting the internal struggle between good and evil, and right and wrong. Together, Fife Ashley-Dejo as the Good Angel, and Kobi Ifesinachi as the Evil Angel provided a poignant physical representation of the deep themes of the musical, establishing powerful images of the fight between the forces of good and evil.
Equally as memorable, the Mephistophilis Legion brought amazing physicality and thrilling choreography, greatly intensifying the production. Traditionally portrayed as one character, the demon was split into seven individual entities, each representing one of the deadly sins. Each sin was successfully personified by the actresses making up the wicked ensemble. This embodiment of all things fundamentally wrong with humanity epitomized just how compelling the wrong choice can be.
As for the sets, they were impressive and realistic, including many levels that were effectively used to produce a full and intricate use of the stage space. Several screens and televisions were integrated into the set, playing background videos and clips that augmented the mood of each scene, and added an original and creative element to the set design. Pulling it all together, the costumes were striking, changing slightly to reflect what was happening to the characters.
The lighting was further used to enhance each actor and identify the setting of each scene. Sound cues were met efficiently by the crew, adding dimension to the musical. Although the music sometimes overpowered the voices of the actors, the tone of the show was never lost.
Ending with a bang, the chilling finale depicting Faustus' inevitable defeat was powerfully executed by the cast. The gripping scene added the perfect ending to the show, illustrating the dire consequences of the sinister path that is too often taken.
Overall, this production of “The Tragical History of Doctor Faustus” powerfully attempted to answer some of life's hardest questions in an exceptional, musical rendition that should be seen by all.