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Faustus realises too late to be careful what you wish for in Marlowe’s timeless classic

  • Writer: Charles Essex
    Charles Essex
  • 3 hours ago
  • 2 min read
Background: Mephistophilis (Paige Calvert); foreground: Dr Faustus (Catherine Grimhilde). Photo courtesy of Sweet Sorrow Theatre Co.
Background: Mephistophilis (Paige Calvert); foreground: Dr Faustus (Catherine Grimhilde). Photo courtesy of Sweet Sorrow Theatre Co.

Dr Faustus written by Christopher Malowe, performed by Sweet Sorrow Theatre Company, directed by Edward Loboda, at The Bear Pit Theatre, Stratford-upon-Avon, from 15 – 18 October.

Review by Charles Essex


What price would we pay to achieve our ambitions?  Mephistophilis (Paige Calvert), Lucifer’s right-hand woman, who acted as our guide throughout, introduced us to the academic Dr Faustus (Catherine Grimhilde),who was willing to trade her soul for 24 years to acquire more learning, knowledge and power.  With wonderful diction, projection and delivery, Paige had a great presence whenever she was on stage.  She seamlessly communicated a variety of emotions, from humour to rage and yet a seeming distress at what awaited Faustus.


Catherine portrayed Faustus’s frustration and inner tension at the limitations of her human mind and abilities.  As the years passed, Faustus’s focus shifted and she became known as a magician, using her powers to conjure historical figures for the delight of her admirers.  Sometimes Catherine’s dialogue was lost by the speed and intensity of her delivery.

Cast in the Pope scene. Photo courtesy of Sweet Sorrow Theatre Co.
Cast in the Pope scene. Photo courtesy of Sweet Sorrow Theatre Co.

The remaining cast all played four or five parts each and did well with their very varied roles.  Deanna Carr was especially versatile as The Seven Deadly Sins, bringing each one to life with a short vignette.  Maya Foster was the actor who was the most intimidating as one of the evil spirits, and it was a clever touch by director Edward Loboda to have Maya carry Catherine off stage over her shoulder as Faustus finally has to pay her dues after 24 years.


Dr. Faustus (Catherine Grimhilde). Photo courtesy of Sweet Sorrow Theatre Co.
Dr. Faustus (Catherine Grimhilde). Photo courtesy of Sweet Sorrow Theatre Co.

The costuming was an unusual mixture of, according to the programme notes, the 1920s and Elizabethan clothing.  Mephistophilis had made Faustus invisible so she could enter the Pope’s dining room and cause mischief, and the costumes of the Pope (Owen Watts) and the cardinals were very authentic.  Owen played that role particularly well.  Tara Wynne-Edwards was a curious choice as Lucifer, as the role required more menace and threat.


Mephistophilis (Paige Calvert). Photo courtesy of Sweet Sorrow Theatre Co.
Mephistophilis (Paige Calvert). Photo courtesy of Sweet Sorrow Theatre Co.

The set worked very well, as the backdrop of Faustus’s study and a desk and two chairs were all that were needed for all the scenes, and it allowed the actors to move freely around the stage.  All the cast did well with this lengthy play, each half being about an hour.  Significant editing of some of the drinking scenes would not have altered the plot and would have increased the pace.  It was quite right that Paige delivered Mephistophilis’s final monologue to bring us this tale to its conclusion.


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