SADIE O'NEILL PORTFOLIO
The Devil's Bargain
"Doctor Faustus" is a play written by Christopher Marlowe in the late 16th century. It explores the tragic story of a highly ambitious scholar named Faustus, who makes a pact with the devil in exchange for unlimited knowledge and power.
In the play, the seven deadly sins are portrayed through the character of Doctor Faustus. The are depicted as temptations that Doctor Faustus gives into and ultimately leads to his downfall. Faustus's Pride is evident from the beginning. He believes himself to be superior to other scholars and seeks ultimate power and knowledge, even at the cost of his soul.
As a group we chose Katie Mitchell as our practitioner. Born in Reading, she is an English director known for her distinctive and inventive style of storytelling. She combines traditional theatrical methods with multimedia elements such as video projections and live cameras to engage her audience. This unique approach not only enhances the audience's experience but also elevates the significance of multimedia as a dynamic participant within the performance.
I was marked on both costume and make - up for this devising piece.
Costume
Before going into the designing of the costumes I asked everyone to link an animal with their sins as I could reflect that chosen animal onto the garment as well as them having something to play with regarding body gestures.
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Make - up
Before creating makeup designs for everyone, I explored cultural designs as well as colour palettes associated with each sin. In a double lesson, I had the opportunity to experiment with various ideas on Sophie and Paddy then furthering the initial designs digitally apply different makeup concepts to face templates. This process allowed me to envision the looks and gather inspiration, ensuring that the makeup designs would be relevant and visually captivating.
Other
I also had the chance to create the front cover for our program as well as designing the lighting. My design cover for the play was influenced by a scene from the opera Orphée et Eurydice. The central character epitomises the constant fight between good and evil with Lucifer, the fallen angel’s corrupt influence pervading those who succumb to him.
The Development
For each sin, I carefully selected fabrics and design elements that would effectively represent its essence. In the case of Lechery, a red velvet fabric was chosen, historically associated with lust and desire. To symbolise sexual desire, I incorporated elements inspired by erotic dancers, such as gloves, tights, and lingerie. Pride was represented through a golden fabric embellished with mirrors, embodying self-obsession and vanity. The Envy costume featured snake-like elements, with two 3D snakes attached around the neckline, symbolising the sin's association with deceit. The Wrath costume utilised left over red velvet fabric with singed and burned sections, reflecting the intense anger associated with the sin. For Covetousness, a black cloak was chosen to convey secrecy and hidden desires. Lastly, the Sloth and Gluttony costume featured an oversized grey t-shirt with food stains and holes, accompanied by a fat suit to emphasise the physical manifestations of excess and laziness.
To capture the essence of Envy, I created a green eye look that conveys a sense of jealousy paired with black pointed brows, extending down the side of the nose, to create an evil snake-like appearance. This further emphasised the feeling of Envy. The bold red lip adds to the overall anger and rage associated with Wrath.
For Amelia’s hair I created a captivating half-up, half-down braided hairstyle that embodied the essence of both Envy and Wrath. At the top half of the head, I carefully formed intricate braids, drawing inspiration from the connection between Envy, snakes and how people often do braided hairstyles when doing their own interpretation of Medusa’s hair. The braids, in this context, served as a visual representation of the entangled desires and complexities that arise from Envy. For the bottom half I decided to curl Amelia’s hair to represent the potent emotion of Wrath. Just as a flame dances and flickers, expressing the fiery intensity of anger and vengeance, the delicate curls embodied the swirling and passionate nature of wrath.
I particularly loved the initial Gluttony design and decided to enhance it by adding cobwebs. These cobwebs portrayed the laziness associated with Sloth. The gluttonous aspect is represented by the vibrant and exaggerated features of the makeup, emphasises excessive consumption and indulgence.
For Sophie’s hair I decided to tease and curl her hair creating a messy and unmanageable hairstyle for her, as she embodied the sins of Sloth and Gluttony. The messy and unmanageable hair captured the essence of Sloth, a sin characterised by laziness, apathy, and a lack of motivation. The unkempt tangles and uncombed locks symbolised a neglect of self-care and an absence of the effort required to maintain a polished appearance. It reflected the idea that Sloth can lead to a decline in personal grooming and a disregard for one's physical presentation. It also showed ideas Gluttony, a sin associated with excessive consumption and indulgence. Just as Gluttony disregards moderation and self-control, the messy hairstyle mirrored a lack of restraint and an overindulgence in pleasure. The hair, matted and difficult to tame, represented the consequences of Gluttony, where an overkill of one's desires can lead to chaos and disorder.
Libby's makeup showcases the sin of Lechery through a red eye and a bold red lip. The intense red colour symbolises passion and desire, linking to the sin.
For Libby, I liked the idea of a Greek inspired hairstyle to reflect the characters prideful nature. The mix of tight defined curls, twists and detailed golden clips were used to form the final hairstyle. The curls added a sense of grace and refinement, embodying the classical beauty associated with ancient Greece. The intertwined twists signify the character's complexity and captivating persona. Paired with the golden clips it truly captures the essence of pride through their association with wealth, self-centeredness, and a desire for attention and admiration.
I started with a golden line going across Paddy’s eyes, showing the desire for material possessions and wealth. However, to enhance the visual impact I merge it with the initial design for Lucifer with the high eyebrows and golden red lip.
For Paddy I went with a slick-back look that also formed horn-like points. This highly effective look communicated the connection with Lucifer and his covetous nature. The slick-back showed a sense of sophistication and control, while the horn-like points added an edgy and devilish touch. Horns have long been associated with Lucifer, representing his rebellious and prideful nature. In the context of Covetousness, the horns serve as a metaphorical representation of the insatiable desire to possess and acquire.
