play by Rudolf Kutzli
translation of Maria Barbara Trommer and adaptation and final writing in prose and verse of Ruth Salles
Video about the making off of the play, staged in 2015 by 8th graders at Colégio Waldorf Micael, in São Paulo SP.
Original title: “Faust's Erlösung”. Play based on ancient texts – popular books, puppet theater, among others – according to the Manichean Faust de Mileve (4th century), and reworked in 1976 for the 8th grade of the Rudolf Steiner School in Basel, by Rudolf Kutzli.
PREFACE
This play emerged from the author's teaching as a class teacher for an entire school year. Who was Faust? There has always been a search for a palpable historical figure who was behind the events reported in popular books and puppet theater at the end of the Middle Ages. From the 15th to the 17th century, a large number of Faust figures were documented in the most varied places in Europe. One has the impression that a certain type characteristic of the time was called Faust – as one who binds himself to the devil, to know the secrets of the world, and goes to hell – as a salutary warning to people. In the history of early Christianity, there was a Faustian character: the Manichean bishop Hippo Regius of Carthage, North Africa, who was called the Faust of Mileve. Out of his involvement with Mileve's Faust, there sprang the impulse to rewrite the old theme of Faust and to redeem it. It was then evident that the question of good and evil, related to the meaning of evil within the world, is capable of deeply touching an 8th year. In an authentic 8th grade play, there must be a lot of drama. The seriousness of some scenes is balanced by the happy events surrounding João-Linguiça and Wagner.
NOTES ON THE TEXT: The text was created from old popular books and puppet theaters. Stylistically, a lot has changed. But one of the quotes comes from Byron's “Manfred”, others from Avenarius' “Faust” and Dante's “Divine Comedy”. Rudolf Steiner's words resonate at various points: "The action of the human being, / when it is illuminated by love / and when it is heated by love, / realizes the meaning of the world."
NOTE from Ruth Salles: Music is at the discretion of the class teacher or music teacher. This adaptation was made in 2007.
CHARACTERS
FAUST / 4 LAMEN OF THE COURT / MEPHISTOPHELIS / NEMESIS / EVIL SPIRIT / BEGGAR / GOOD SPIRIT / MOTHER AND SON / CHARON / ELDER / PLUTO / OLD DEVIL / GIRL / WITCHES / SICK / FURIAS / WAGNER / JOHN-SAUSAGE / ROOSTER / DOM CARLOS / DUQUE / DUQUESA / SOME SOULS ON THE BOAT OF THE BEGINNING / THREE DEVILS DISGUISED AS STUDENTS
AS APPARITIONS: SOLOMON / BELKISS / PARIS / HELENA / ALTOUM / TURANDOT
Below is the first frame text. If you are interested in representing the piece, we will send you the text complete in PDF. The school must request by email: [email protected]
FIRST TABLE
Prologue in the realm of the dead.
Charon, Some Souls, Pluto; Witches, Furies, Devils.
(There is a dull rumble in the distance, the wind howling softly, water lapping, wailing sounds that wax and wane. Pale red lights flash, huge bats pass by.)
CHARONTE (approaches, rowing the teetering boat of the dead):
– I take my boat, I, Charon,
over Stygia and Acheron.
But I have few souls on board
who go to hell damned.
That's why I don't like it
this mission given to me.
Dismiss me from this duty
would give me the greatest pleasure;
and Pluto will look at me sour
if I leave the service so soon.
Oh hell, open now!
Pluto, I'll wait for you out here!
For I want to leave your service,
and I'm glad to say that! (gets off the boat)
Charon is here to ask!
Get out of hell, Pluto, and come listen to me!
PLUTO (appears between lightning and thunder):
– Who is this cheeky infernal spirit?
what troubles the dark lord in his portal?
CHARON:
– It is I, Charon, I, your servant.
Listen well, my lord!
Before you I bow my forehead!
PLUTO:
– What do you want then, faithful Charon?
CHARON:
- I thought well to speak,
but today I come to accuse
your servants.
PLUTO:
– O rower, how dare you?
CHARON:
– Your infernal spirits act slowly,
They bring very few souls for me to cross.
I only take lesser spirits!
and what I want are the biggest!
The Masters! Oh if they came
and if the hells smoked!
PLUTO:
– Well, I will call witches and smoking furies,
and you will have a great man in a moment.
I'll send my hottest devil after him,
and with that I myself will be glad.
CHARON:
– Since my Pluto speaks so well,
I return to fulfill my role. (dance while talking)
From now on I'm happy,
with the souls that I will receive as a gift.
The hellhound is already howling.
Soon my boat will be full of people! (walks away, paddling)
PLUTO (raises arms; distant howls are heard):
– Quick, quick, lazy devils!
Smoldering furies, cunning witches!
Approach my throne!
Have you by any chance fallen asleep?
WITCHES (appear with whistles):
– Here we are, the witches of witchcraft,
oh master, oh guide!
We stir poisonous potions
and dangerous. (giggles thinly)
FURIAS (appear howling):
– We Furies leave souls to smithereens,
in rags and rags. (howl more)
DEVILS (with rattles):
'We the devils sweep it up!'
With our furry tail,
we whip humanity.
Pluto, what is your will?
PLUTO:
– I ran the world like a gale.
Lead men to do evil.
Witches! Furies! Hell!
Cast men into afflictions
and in the mire of evil deeds.
I will praise you if one day I find
everything turned upside down!
WITCHES, FURY AND DEVIL:
– Pluto, whatever you want we will do,
for it was from Chaos that we were born! (whistle, howl and rattle)
PLUTO:
– And now, Mephistopheles, my most loyal spirit,
appear before the infernal throne!
MEPHISTOPHELES (arriving, greeted by the others):
– Here I am, Pluto!
PLUTO:
– Well, he goes to the city of Prague and there attracts
a man named João Fausto. Go!
I want you to seduce him with all your training
and may you draw him into our kingdom.
WITCHES, FURY, and DEVIL (whisper):
– John Faust! John Faust! John Faust!
MEPHISTOPHELES:
- I will use all my seduction.
He will not escape, mighty Pluto.
PLUTO:
- Then go!
The witches, the furies and my devils
will be faithfully by your side.
Take away from Faust the thirst for truth,
for beauty and kindness.
Let him not think of others, only of his own pleasure.
And then may remorse make your heart burn!
When despair seizes you,
that's where you're going to throw it!
MEPHISTOPHELES:
— By the river Stygia, dark,
I swear!
This daring one, in a moment,
will curse your birth!
PLUTO (to all his servants):
– Depart, then, on your mission!
I held Faust in an eternal bond
and hurl it into the gullet of hell! (all come out; witches, furies, devils, whistling, rattling, howling)
SECOND TABLE
Faust Study Room
Faust; Good spirit, bad spirit; Wagner; three Devils disguised as Students.
FAUST:
- This night seems like it never ends
Alas, what mortal thirst is never quenched!
Let's go back to work, to study,
although I find despair in everything...
Since my youth I dedicated myself to the “studium theologicum”, and I got to the point that here in Prague I received the “sumum gradus doctoratus cum laude” and was honored by everyone as a doctor, professor and “Rector Magnificus” of the “Alma Mater”. But how does that help me? Oh, Nature? What is the force that reveals the future called? How to find the meaning of the world? It is the core of the spirit that I wish to find in the hidden…
EVIL SPIRIT (to the left of Faust):
– Faust, Faust!
Leave the study of Theology
and give yourself to the study of Magic,
if you want to be happy on earth
and know well what it contains.
GOOD SPIRIT (to the right of Faust):
– Faust, Faust, do not be deceived!
With magic, you'll end up in darkness!
Awaken the wisdom in yourself, deep inside,
and it will take you to the meaning of the world.
BAD SPIRIT:
- Leave this unmeasured illusion
and start living life!
The meaning of the world is pleasure!
Magic will give you power!
GOOD SPIRIT:
“Don't listen to what he says, my friend.
Save your soul from this danger.
FAUST:
– A voice on each side, closer and closer…
Which one will tell me what is right?
– Voice from the right, who are you?
GOOD SPIRIT:
- I am the force of love,
that creates light and heat.
FAUST:
– This anyone can say.
– Voice from the left, do you want to answer
who are you?
BAD SPIRIT:
– I came from the realm of Pluto, in fact,
to bring you happiness.
Strength, power, wealth, pleasure
is what I have to offer.
FAUST:
– Ah, happiness and wealth too?
It will do me good.
– Spirit of the right, go away!
– Spirit of the left, I follow you now!
GOOD SPIRIT:
– Woe to you, poor soul!
But I won't leave you, even when you're wrong,
for thou shalt have my light to save thyself.
(The good spirit leaves. The evil spirit leaves with a devilish chuckle. There is a knock at the door.)
FAUSTO: – Who knocks? You may come in!
WAGNER (bows down): - Pardon, Your Magnificence, if I interrupt your most high “studium”.
FAUSTO: Ah, it is you, Wagner, my famulus! What do you want at this time of night?
WAGNER: Three students wish to speak with Your Magnificence. One of them held a large book as if it were a sacred thing…
FAUSTO: — A book? Well, let me in.
(Wagner calls out to the students, who enter with exaggerated bows.)
1st STUDENT: – A thousand pardons for disturbing Mr. Doctor “Faustum”.
2nd STUDENT: – Sorry for “molestare im studium”…
3rd STUDENT: – …for you “incomodare”.
FAUSTUS: Not for nothing! what are you coming to? I said soon!
1st STUDENT: – After the death of our father, we found in the secret drawer of an old closet this “compendium”, which he kept under lock and key…
2nd STUDENT: – … and which has the following title: “Clavis astarti ad artem magicam”.
3rd STUDENT: - And as magic art is something diabolical, we brought the book to the great doctor, to whose high wisdom it will not harm.
FAUSTO (to himself, taking the book): – This is what I was looking for!
(aloud to students): – You did well to bring me this work, which could be your downfall. Only the wisest should see it. I thank you.
THREE STUDENTS (with irony):
– May the book do you good, Magnificence!
We said goodbye. Excuse. (limping out, with Wagner)
FAUSTO: What fault will all three have? (opens book) Ah, with the help of this work, I will dominate heaven, earth and hell! Let's start the studies.
(to be continued)
If you are interested in representing the piece, we will send you the full text in PDF. The school must request by email: [email protected]
Please inform in the request the name of the institution, full address, contact details and name of the person responsible for the work.
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