North West Theatre

Doctor Faustus

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Christopher Marlowe
08 Sep 10 to 09 Oct 10
Royal Exchange Theatre

When Doctor Faustus' desire for power and knowledge leads him to conjure up the demon Mephistopheles, he finds himself offered the ultimate bargain: he will be granted everything he desires for 24 years, but at the end of that time will have to hand his soul over to the devil.

So begins a hedonistic journey in time and space as Faustus turns the world into his playground.

...a top notch cast of performers who all put in tremendous performances... Stephen Hudson gives a spirited performance... Patrick O’Kane commands the stage and has the right qualities to make Doctor Faustus both grotesque and sympathetic but his performance does suffer a little from poor diction... Ian Redford... as Mephistopheles has crystal clear diction and is superb... Visually this is a sumptuous production both in terms of set and costumes, both expertly designed by Ben Stones... Magic consultant Darren Lang has created a series of fantastic illusions... Director Toby Frow has real vision... In the first half the production doesn’t falter for an instant... the pace slows considerably after the interval and much of the momentum is lost... the production is top quality boasting some thrilling moments and amazing visuals.
The Public Reviews (Rating: 4/5)
...a stunning new production... a production that allows the audience to overdose on spectacle, while, at the same time, not losing sight of what the play is about. Do not miss this.
Sale and Altrincham Messenger (Rating: 5/5)
Toby Frow's production is certainly spectacular... entertaining but it does seem to lack any substance... where it seems to be trying to be scary it doesn't really succeed... Patrick O'Kane is an imposing physical presence as Faustus... but his strong accent mixed with an Elizabethan text... makes some of his dialogue unintelligible... Ian Redford is... crystal clear in his speaking of the text as he superbly plays Mephistopheles... Jamie de Courcey's Benvolio is probably the best-developed character... Ben Stones has created a set that works very well largely and looks good... The acting students... very committed but perhaps a bit too intense in the party scenes and a bit Shaun of the Dead as the devils... Darren Lang has put together a series of magic tricks that, while not new or original, are woven very well into the production...
British Theatre Guide
If [Toby] Frow doesn’t play Dr Faustus for laughs exactly, he certainly can’t wait to get its bloodthirsty teeth into the ‘fun’... some genuinely special effects worthy of any magician... not enough attention is paid to why Faustus has made his famous pact with the dark side in the first place. The opening scenes are too static, and Patrick O’Kane as Faustus seems to compensate here by over-acting... a funny, shocking and completely enveloping Renaissance play.
The Stage
This incredibly cinematic version of the classic story starts well as it dazzles the audience into submission... the whole is worth less than the sum of its parts by the time this uneven play is over... Patrick O'Kane... is sexy, funny and incredibly charismatic. Ian Redford gives a very understated turn as Mephistopheles and shines in every scene... Ben Stones' epic set and Mark Jonathan's filmic lighting... after a while - these additions start to become a tad wearing... [Toby] Frow is so intent in showing you the tricks that he has up his sleeves, that the play starts to become more about the smoke and mirrors than the substance within.
What's On Stage (Rating: 3/5)
...sumptuous new production... Patrick O’Kane grabs the coveted role of Doctor Faustus by the throat... It’s a terrific performance... Ian Redford plays Mephistopheles as an affable Father Christmas-like vicar and it works a treat... one of the highlights for me was Richard Hammerton’s original score... Toby Frow... it seems at times that he’s gone overboard with literal visualisations... Ben Stones’ imaginative set and costumes are full of over the top surprises... undoubtedly an accessible epic spectacle
City Life (Rating: 4/5)
Patrick O’Kane powerfully conveys the character’s internal conflict... Ian Redford’s trilby-wearing Mephistopheles... completely ignores the depths and contradictions within the character. However Stephen Hudson is louche and quietly wicked as Faustus’s servant Wagner, and Rory Murphy makes an excellent professional stage debut with a genuinely funny turn as the dim-witted clown Robin... a night of amazing spectacle.
UK Theatre Network
[Toby] Frow offers a gaudy spectacle... the entire show has the feeling of a Hieronymus Bosch painting... bleakly funny, even though it sometimes feels as if the pageantry is in danger of getting in the way of the poetry... Richard Hammarton's terrific soundscape is often more effective than all the flashy visuals... The relationship between Patrick O'Kane's distinctly Irish Faustus and Ian Redford's Mephistopheles is particularly nice... Sometimes in his eagerness to make Marlowe's astonishing poetry speak, [Patrick] O'Kane is in danger of squeezing it dry. Like the entire production, less might actually be a whole lot more.
The Guardian (Rating: 3/5)
...a hotchpotch of silliness, crude humour and sublimity... for much of the time... has the spiritual depth of a Doctor Who Christmas special... a truly magnificent and profoundly affecting ending...
The Observer