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Oui, C'est Toi Que J'aime
Aug. 25th, 2011 03:34 pmThere's something wonderfully appropriate in watching Faust performed at an open-air theater in the middle of a massive lightning storm. We were too far off for thunder, but every time Mephistopheles cackled the whole sky lit up.
Really a great production. My grandma was especially happy with it, since she really hates the minimalist/modernist staging they like to do at Santa Fe, and she was unimpressed by Griselda last week. Rather than doing period staging (Faust is set in 16th century Germany, I think?) they went with a sort of mid-19th century grotesque effect - it was rather like being at a Victorian carnival. Literally, in the second act, when they brought out the carousel horses and the freak show.
Decent performances all around. The leads were a little underwhelming, although Faust came into the role with a lot of depth in the later acts. Marguerite did not go crazy as well as Natalie Dessay in Lucia, but the church scene in act 4 was deliciously creepy and ominous, and I loved the prison scene toward the end. Mephistopheles was totally awesome. I love a good evil bass. And Siebel! Yay Siebal!
I must admit the unexpected ballet was unexpected. And weird. It ended in a catfight between Cleopatra and Helen of Troy.
Not the most ground-breaking show I've ever seen, but that really wasn't why I wanted to go to Faust. I just wanted something fun and satisfying and a little scary, which is absolutely what I got.
Very excited about next season now. OMG TOSCA AND THE PEARL FISHERS. HOW WILL I CHOOSE?
Really a great production. My grandma was especially happy with it, since she really hates the minimalist/modernist staging they like to do at Santa Fe, and she was unimpressed by Griselda last week. Rather than doing period staging (Faust is set in 16th century Germany, I think?) they went with a sort of mid-19th century grotesque effect - it was rather like being at a Victorian carnival. Literally, in the second act, when they brought out the carousel horses and the freak show.
Decent performances all around. The leads were a little underwhelming, although Faust came into the role with a lot of depth in the later acts. Marguerite did not go crazy as well as Natalie Dessay in Lucia, but the church scene in act 4 was deliciously creepy and ominous, and I loved the prison scene toward the end. Mephistopheles was totally awesome. I love a good evil bass. And Siebel! Yay Siebal!
I must admit the unexpected ballet was unexpected. And weird. It ended in a catfight between Cleopatra and Helen of Troy.
Not the most ground-breaking show I've ever seen, but that really wasn't why I wanted to go to Faust. I just wanted something fun and satisfying and a little scary, which is absolutely what I got.
Very excited about next season now. OMG TOSCA AND THE PEARL FISHERS. HOW WILL I CHOOSE?