Nicholas Barnard TH367: Dr. Faustus Concept Paper 12/2/02
What happens if I throw out everything I believe in at this moment and gamble it all for power, potential riches, and infinite knowledge? This due to the state lotteries is at least partially a common occurrence, people get riches and by that some power, but gain no knowledge and very little direct power.
Christopher Marlowe argues in The Tragical History of the Life and Death of Doctor Faustus that man needs to follow a moral compass, specifically in the form of religion, and that if you follow another route, it will lead to disaster and a fun, but ultimately un-purposed and generally unproductive life.
Marlow wrote his play in a time where religion was incredibly homogenized and prevalent. Almost all people in England all practiced within the Church of England, but within today's society there is a truly multi-religion society, where people believe in many different religions, as well as religions with similar approaches to theological issues. In addition there are people who have fully rejected religion and are living godless, but moral lives. Artistically the message that living an immoral life without purpose is an undesirable ultimately will lead to a futile existence must be conveyed.
Producing this play in a manner so that a modern audience can relate to it in the most direct way is a primary goal. This play should be set in a modern western university setting, and the main character should be cast as an average twenty something college student. The representatives of “good” should be played as professors, fellow students, and parents, whereas the representatives of “evil” should be played as naughtily playful students, marketers, and political leaders. In regards to set the set should be fairly realistic, the audience should be able to believe that they are at AnyUniversity USA.
Stylistically, this play should be placed in the near future, and should be generally realistic, so that the audience's burden of suspension of disbelief is minimized. The references to people and items within Marlowe's culture should be tastefully updated with references to people and items that convey a similar intent.
Placing this play in a near-future university setting will satisfy many of the production requirements of this piece. Upon placing the piece in the near-future the magic becomes more believable to the audience, as people can believe that anything can happen in the future, but because they have experienced the present, and have knowledge of the past they tend not to believe magic in these times, or they accept the piece as mysterious.
Secondly, placing this play within a university setting, with Dr. Faustus being played by a college student, should be done, because within today's society, it is impossible to know everything, but college students often can believe that they know everything in false highs about the world. Placing this play within a college, also make the Dr. Faustus character more believable as young adults at this stage are often finding their moral compass, and pushing the limits within their world, therefore a college student is logical for Dr. Faustus to be played as, because he is a character that is pushing his moral limits, to his detriment.