By Caroline McGinn
Posted: Mon Oct 8 2007
Don your velvet cape and beaked plague mask, and welcome to the (highly contagious) club of the Red Death. Theatre company Punchdrunk has become a bit of a cult, and no wonder – its sensational installations convert deserted factories and warehouses into theatrical labyrinths, where theatre-goers explore dimly lit sets at will. Its American Gothic ‘Faust’ was spectacular; its new show based on the tales of Edgar Allen Poe reaches into exactly the same bag of tricks and treats, though it feels considerably emptier after the tricks are played. Artistic director Felix Barret (a man who truly knows how to source dead man’s fingers) dresses BAC up as Poe’s fantasy-world with freakish flair: masked guests at Prince Prospero’s ball search for action through a six-storey Gothic haunted house, complete with coffin in the cellar and madwoman in the attic. The bold (and the in-the-know) are rewarded with private performances: follow the gibbering bride if she tugs you into the fireplace. But even the raucous nineteenth century Music Hall upstairs (where masks slip, feet rest, and stale throats are revived by happily anachronistic beverages) is not for the stiff of hip, or even the demanding of mind.
Maxine Doyle’s cavorting, convulsive choreography is superb, but too many freak show couples fight/fuck/flee frenziedly, without illumination. The thrills spill out into playgoers – you may peer into the four-poster bed over which a groom and his limply corpse-like bride writhe in a compulsive danse macabre, or be seized by the throat by a duelling villain. My own solo moment to treasure happened on the stairs: a tramp, tightrope-walking a narrow iron roof-strut, suddenly plunged 20 feet, catching himself on the banister below with his elbow. The masque’s pulse-racing climax, however, had little more than confetti at its heart. And anyone in search of a story will not find one – though if you bone up on Poe and bring your lover and a hipflask of absinthe, you may well make one for yourself.
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9 comments
What do you call this type of theatre production (the walking around in different rooms)?
It was really good and well worth the money.
it was fantastic! as a huge Edgar Allen Poe fan i made so many links with his work- but agree there was no actually story line. the music hall was amazing and -also as a drama student- the ability to interact with the actors was an experience i will never forget. the perception of vision, altered by the masks, create the finishing touch for the gothic, scary atmosphere. i totally recommend this to anyone! it was awesome and ill never forget it.
wow i REALLY enjoyed that, what a buzz!
You get given a mask when you get there and everyone has the same one. Totally agree with what Karen said below, not many performances going on and we wondered whether we were missing it all because there were a lot of empty rooms. Absolutely loved it though, the atmosphere, everyone else in masks and the bar is brilliant. Agree that the ticket prices are on the expensive side.
so do you need a ras claart mask or not? ..don't want to get there then have to make a bog roll mask or something..
I'm going tomorrow night and cannot wait!! Very excited. I have one question though..... Are you given a mask or do you bring your own...or do we need one whatsoever??
Went to see this last night with my college, we all had such a good night, it was briliant! I'm going back there with my family asap, because i thought that every time you go to something like this your going to get a different experience. I might try going round on my own but i was really scared at come points, luckily my brother is in my college too so i had his arm to hold on to. The bit at the end was brilliant, had a bit of a dance, it was like some sort of murder mystery bloody loved it!!!!!
rose
Faust was BRILLIANT, & once again - the set production is amazing for Masque of the Red Death, very atmospheric! However doesn't appear to be much of a storyline to follow & due to BACS being a smaller venue than the previous warehouse, can become a little tiresome wandering around the same empty rooms, as performers seem a little sparce as well. Appears to be more 'dance performance' based than storyline for guests to follow. The bar with cabaret however is Fab, & the fact it was packed from about halfway onwards probably indicates that quite a few others felt the same. The Finale outshines last year, but it would want to considering the above!
Can't help but feel that Punchdrunk have become a little greedy on the ticket prices this time around :(
An actual semblance of storyline would be appreciated in future productions...
I went to see this play with my A level drama class and we loved it! PUNCHDRUNK RULLLLE!