A photo documentary of our recent production — April 29-30, 2000

ACT I — Scene 1

Alone, aged and despairing, Faust (Pedro Porro), his pursuits of alchemy and philosophy having yielded no serviceable results, sits in his study on what he has chosen to be his last night on earth...

Unable to face another day of an unfulfilled life, he prepares to take poison to end what he sees as a cursed existence...

His hand, momentarily stayed by the sound of the young folk of the village singing a morning hymn, Faust calls one last time on God to aid him. But then he turns against this ostensibly deaf god and rips the crucifix from the wall. Hurling it into the fireplace, he now calls on Satan to aid him...

Much to his surprise, his request is answered by the appearance of Méphistophêlès (Andrew Martens) himself ! “Why the surprise?” the demon asks, “Am I not well dressed? A sword at my side, a feather in my cap, the very picture of a gentleman.”

At once dismissed by the philosopher, the fiend explains that one dose not call him all the way from his domain just to show him out the door!

“What can you do for me?” Faust asks.   “Everything.” the devil replies, “What do you want? Power? Fame? Wealth?”   “Something more than any of those,” he answers. “I want youth!”

“That I can do,” is Méphistophêlès’ reply...

“Just sign... But why do you hesitate? Perhaps this will help you decide...”

“What a marvel!”

“Give it to me. I’ll sign it!”

“When can I see her again?”   “Today.”

”Let’s go, the pleasures of youth await!”

Scene 2

At a village fair, some of the men are preparing to depart for the wars. Wagner (Alan Gordon Smulen, left) greets his friend, Valentin (Seong Kee Kim) and asks him to share a farewell drink. But he sees that his friend in somewhat downcast...

Valentin explains that, since his mother died, he must leave his sister, Marguerite, all alone while he is away. One of the young village boys, Siebel (Amanda Serra, center), who is staying behind, promises to keep an eye on her for him...

Valentin, who has been given a medal by his sister, Marguerite, to protect him in battle, asks God to protect her while he is away...

Wagner is about to entertain the crowd by singing a ribald ditty, the Song of the Rat, but he is interrupted by...

Méphistophêlès, who attracts the attentions of the villagers by his singing of the Song of the Golden Calf (Le veau d’or)...

Then he offers a toast to the townsfolk, but he is appalled by the wine. So, striking the sign above the doorway to the inn, he elicits wine of a better vintage from the Bacchus pictured there...

After telling several very disturbing fortunes, the townsfolk, led by Valentin, realize that this fellow is a demon...

Valentin attempts to strike Méphistophêlès but his sword breaks in mid-swing. He then turns the hilt of his sword upside down forming a cross, which he places in front of the fiend who cowers in the face of this Christian symbol of God.

Not put off for long, the devil entices a dance from the villagers. (Dancers from left: George Callahan, Stephanie Heston, Mary Beth Budd, David Roeger, Christen McGrew and Jason Melms.) Choreography is by Rose Marie Menes.

The village girls try to get Siebel to dance, but he declines...

In the midst of the festivities, Faust sees Marguerite (Tonia Manteneri), the girl he beheld in the vision. He offers her his arm to cross the road, but she graciously refuses...

Faust is ecstatic.

The Act ends in a frenzy of dancing — orchestrated by the devil, of course!

More photos to follow, come back soon...

 

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