Doctor Faustus
An incredible production that takes good care of the original and keeps it both classy and fun. Great casting choices for Faustus (Ryan Doherty) and Mephistopheles (Halle Galloway). A particular enthusiastic shout-out to Galloway for the mysterious, unforgettably alluring, deliberately calm, and pointedly menacing presence on stage as the various scenes demanded. Doherty shines in the final stages of Faustus' breakdown as he faces the inevitable. Ensemble cast did their job extremely well (the cardinal sins scene was excellent!), while stage hands, direction, set work, and music all added to a successful run of the play. Best play I've seen at this year's Vancouver Fringe. Looking forward to catching these performers again. Hats off to you, Halle, Melanie, and Ryan!
Good set, Great cast, Fun, & entertaining. I'd certainly recommend it. Good work everyone
I went into Doctor Faustus not knowing what to expect, and I was blown away! The quick changes, accents, and strong cast created a fabulous show. The emotion from the actor playing Doctor Faustus himself was palpable and impressive. Charming and comedic, I highly recommend this show.
I’m sure we know some version of the classic tale about selling your soul to the devil for whatever it is you want in life. However I had not read Doctor Faustus or seen it on stage, so this was a Fringe treat. The main two characters, Dr Faustus and the devil’s assistant Mephostophilis, are very compelling. They are ably aided by a small cast that covers characters ranging from the devil to local workers on through to fellow scholars and even the voices of good and evil. This was great fun to watch. Good use of a challenging space, the picnic pavilion, complete with background noise that included ducks quacking as they flew by — if you are hard of hearing sit up front. The opening night performance ran longer than expected, but I didn’t even notice.
I liked how faithfully the story was adapted, while giving it a contemporary touch and some funny moments. The scene transitions were well organized and I enjoyed the creative costumes and the way the characters were interpreted. Watch it!
classic old tail. acting was really good, especially the one girl playing opposite Dr Faustus. Great expressions. (Halle). But all cast were good. I would highly recommend it. Breeze was a bit of an issue for the cast but it added to it.
Acting spot on,. Loved the accents. The old English caught onto. Everyone did a great job. Wasnt long enough. venue was somewhat noise at times, but amzing otherwise
Loved the play. All the cast was delightful. The two main characters wer fantastic, especially the facial expressions of the one playine Mephasthopillis. The accents of the others were a delight. Would definintely watch again
Loved the play, loved the accents. It was really great. Only issue was the sound noise. Water park was runnung at the time.
Incredible actors and physical theatre. I was a little apprehensive with the old language at first but then quickly got into it! I was amazed by the physical comedy and the accents!! I had a great time and I’d watch it again.
The language was a joy. Great cast and performance. Don’t sit at the back (Vancouver) because of passerby noise.
A really great rendition of a classic, with a strong cast and fun choices to revamp the show into something fresh and new! Must see!
Super energetic cast that does an awesome job with this play. It was very fun and frenetic with a cast of five who did lightning fast changes. They made great use of the venue (picnic pavilion, outdoor but covered) though I think it would have been better if they got an indoor venue but that's the luck of the draw at the Fringe. That said, you might want to pick a show after 6pm so the water park next door isn't quite so loud.
A rare chance to see Elizabethan drama as the original audience would have seen it--in an outdoor, daylight setting. The actors maintained their concentration admirably against an audibly unpredictable background: during the performance I attended, outside noises included a fountain, the voices of children playing and of passersby, and a plane flying overhead. Halle Galloway projects a sulky Mephistopholes. On the other hand, the dialogues between the angel and the devil in Faustus's head would gain piquancy if the actors used their physical posture and movements to portray the differences between them. "Doctor Faustus" takes us on a compelling journey into internal agony.