Local Theater to Present Contemporary-Classic “Faustus” by David Mamet
MICHIGAN CITY, Ind. – Featuring a cast and crew from all over northwest Indiana, the Holdcraft Players will present David Mamet’s play “Faustus,” a reimagining of the legend first made famous in Christopher Marlowe’s “Doctor Faustus” in 1592, on the weekends of Jan. 23 and 30 at the Holdcraft Performing Arts Center (HPAC) in Michigan City, Ind.
A Chicago native, Mamet’s credits include writing for stage, film, TV, poetry and children’s books, as well as creator and producer of The Unit. Titles include Glengarry Glen Ross (both stage and screen), The Postman Always Rings Twice, The Untouchables, Wag the Dog, Hoffa, Hill Street Blues and The Shield, with celebrity performers such as long-time associates William H. Macy and Joe Mantegna as well as John Malkovich, who recently starred in one of Mamet’s plays on London’s West End.
His prolific career began in 1976 and over time coined the term “Mamet-speak” as he became known for his cynical, street-smart vernacular. One of his more recent plays, “Faustus” represents a departure from that norm, bringing the traditional legend into the 1900s and framing it with a more classic language style. According to director Joel Thompson, it also puts a few intriguing twists on the core parable of a man who sells his soul to the devil in exchange for worldly success.
“’Faustus’ the play examines Faustus the legendary character as a human being rather than an archetype,” said Thompson. “We can see the trail of small cobblestones left by each of his deeds and choices, and relate to him through that lens of where our own cobblestones lead all of us. It’s more than a cautionary tale – it’s an everyman fairy tale that’s all about the human condition.”
The production features five cast members who Thompson described as dedicated to infusing meaning into each word and connecting with each of their viewers. “They’ve been working with intensity and excitement toward the goal of bringing an experience that’s both entertaining and enjoyable as art and adventurous as food for thought,” he said, adding that since “Faustus” takes viewers down a fresh path, the hope is they’ll take the play with them long after the end curtain falls and continue dwelling on those “cobblestones.”
“Reading a book or sitting in a dark auditorium, it might feel easy to say we wouldn’t do what those people did. But if someone wrote a play depicting your life – would that audience say the same thing? It’s different when you’re living it and you don’t know the end of the story yet,” Thompson explained. “That’s what we’re bringing to life with Faustus. And we can’t wait to share that with everyone.”
Tickets are currently on sale at www.yptcinc.com/tickets for the following show times, all CST:
o Sun., Jan. 25 @ 2pm
o Fri. & Sat., Jan. 30-31 @ 7pm
o Sun., Feb. 1 @ 2pm