Faust

If you don't know Faust (the character) or Faust (the film), you've still heard the plot. A philosopher makes a deal with the devil for unlimited power; the blues guitarist makes a deal for supernatural musical ability; a baseball fan sells his soul to see the Yankees win.

As told in many poems, dramas, and musical works from the 1500's and on, Faust is a doctor with a dissatisfaction for life. He exchanges his soul for all worldly knowledge and pleasure, damning him to Hell for the remainder of eternity.

In 1800's, Goethe published two epic plays about Faust that are still centerpieces of German literature. The story has become more romantic, more personal: angels, demons, seduction, sin, and redemption. Gounod's grand opera built on Goethe's Faust and became one of the most performed works of the time, but the list of Faust-related work is too long to even begin here.

And so, in 1926, when UFA, the dominant production company of Germany took on Faust as a subject, it was a project of epic proportions. The biggest stars, fantastic new techniques, and extravagant retakes made it tremendously expensive, but also, quite gorgeous.

Director F. W. Murnau takes each shot as an opportunity to draw with smoke, grime, sparkling light, and deep shadows. The magic carpet scene deserves special mention; a camera flies over a landscape of miniature buildings, trees, and rivers; remarkable for the time!

Modern Robot began performing Faust in 2015. With a score composed for electric guitar and drums, the music ranges from lush melodies to searing sounds, bringing out the grandeur, passion, and large scale of Murnau’s film.

In 2016, Modern Robot performed Faust at the Crown, the Carolina Theatre's black box theater, and went on to play the show at several festivals: Edinburgh Festival Fringe, Orlando Fringe, New York International Fringe Festival (winning the Overall Excellence Award for Music Composition), and San Francisco Fringe Festival (winning Best of the Fringe and Techie’s Choice).

In a 5-star review, BroadwayBaby said: “Modern Robot provide a pulsating, breathtakingly epic score to the film. The distinct, atmospheric movements accompanying the different scenes and themes of the film are expertly arranged and the post-rock Godspeed You Black Emperor-esque guitar and drumming is of an exceptional quality.”

Modern Robot is delighted to bring this show back to the main stage of the Carolina Theatre, a venue built in 1927 to present this kind of grand silent film.

The show is at 7pm, and will be performed by Ben Singer on guitar and Tyler Monroe on drums.