Looking for a good German comedy to address the issue of reason versus faith while throwing in a ton of high art literary references? I thought so! Then the Arden Theatre Company's Wittenberg is your play.
Wittenberg, a new play by David Davalos, is set at the University of Wittenberg in the 16th century, a time when, theoretically, John Faustus, Martin Luther, and Prince Hamlet could all have been involved in academic life there. Hamlet, characteristically indecisive, is an undeclared senior at the university. Faustus, a professor of philosophy, and Luther, a theologian, compete with each other to influence him. The play illustrates the age-old debate between humanism and religion.
Despite what could be seen as stark subject matter, Wittenberg is very funny. The play does not condescend to its audience members, but expects them to understand its fast, wry humor. Scott Greer positively steals the show as Dr. Faustus. I expecially enjoyed his rendition of "Bad Case of Loving You." Shawn Fagan, too, had a very amusing scene when Hamlet played Laertes in a tennis match.
The one complaint I have of Wittenberg is this: despite a very non-elitist tone, the play can only appeal to a very select audience. Most of the jokes hinge on an understanding of the plays Hamlet and Faust, and an understanding of the Protestant Reformation. If you do qualify as someone, however, with a knowledge of these subjects, do go. Wittenberg has the qualities of both eliciting laughs and making one think, making it a rarity in the contemporary theater world. For information about the extended dates of this performance visit the Arden website at http://www.ardentheatre.org/.
