-Part of the July issue of the EY Quarterly Newsletter
By Adrianna Garcia

Esplanade’s The Studios series returns this July to September, bringing more inspiration, imagination and innovation to audiences. Kicking off the series is Film- Faust, a new play inspired by Faust: der Tragodie erstr Teil. In his latest play, director Fran Borgia visits and explores the themes in the famous German poetic drama while providing his own take on the story. Originally about Faust, a world-weary genius, and a bet between God and the devil Mephistopheles, Film - Faust provides its own modernised version of the story. In the play, K is a film director with a degenerative disease. However, his ambition proves to be more consuming than his illness when he makes a pact with the devil in order to achieve 33 years of insurmountable excellence in the film making industry in exchange for his life. 

K. Rajagopal, who plays K, Faust and Mephistopheles in Film-Faust, uses the relationship between ‘Good’ and ‘Evil’ to interlace K and Faust’s journey as K’s time inevitably runs out. Although Rapagopal faces the task of playing three different roles, Fran Borgia firmly believes that Rajagopal “has the capacity and the integrity to sustain all these figures in him in a unique and extraordinary way.” Hailed as being “close to perfection” by Borgia, Rajagopal’s performance is something to look forward to.

Commenting on the relevance of the story to the present context, Borgia believes that the ideas from Faust “are now more alive than ever.” As a story that has been pertinent to society for centuries and explores the building blocks of morality, it builds on Borgia’s increasing interest to “understand (our) past.” 

Given the parallels between K. and Faust, the audience will be able to appreciate the humanity in both characters and the extent to which they will go to “satisfy the needs of the ’self’.” Since the original work by Goethe centres on enduring themes of good and evil, it will be interesting to juxtapose the ideals of Goethe’s time with those of the present. According to Borgia, “These are the main concepts explored in the play. But we need to understand that ’Good’ is a broad concept and one that is difficult to define.  The exploration in the play surrounds what I believe ‘Good’ is. ‘Evil’ on the other hand, is much easier; it is basically the opposite of ‘Good’.”Film - Faust will give the audience an opportunity to explore the morals of humanity, the fine line between ‘Good’ and ‘Evil’ and the story of a man who gives up everything to achieve what he wants”. 

When asked what he wants to bring to his audience, Borgia replied, “I am doing Film – Faust as a way to understand my own obsessions… The audience will get from the play, an open window to some of the obsessions that a fanatic of Goethe’s Faust has gotten from reading it. I hope that Film-Faust is a good portrayal of the ideas that I am more fascinated with: a man seeking for something that he can never find while it has been right next to him all along: Love, and be loved in return.” 

Film – Faust will be presented at the Esplanade Theatre Studio on 24 and 25 July 2009. Click here for more information.