Faust - Mixed Precipitation

The wonderful Mixed Precipitation is back for Pickup Truck Opera Vol 4. This is an annual event that takes place in late summer/early fall where this group of merry makers takes a pickup truck to certain locations, and performs an opera. It is as wonderful and magical as it sounds. I had heard of them for years (when they performed as picnic operettas), and finally went to see their Pickup Truck production of Magic Flute at the Alexis Bailly Vineyard. It was fantastic. While I missed last years Romeo & Juliet, I made a point of getting out to see Faust.

As they travel around the state, the first opportunity that would fit my schedule was their performance last Sunday in Harriet Island Regional Park. They pulled the pickup truck behind the Target Stage that is there, set up a playing area in front, and soon there were lawn chairs, and blankets everywhere. This specific performance started at 5 which was perfect - the sun was still up, but it was cooling down...enough that I felt I should have brought a sweatshirt. The one difficulty is that it was a bit windy, but that is a chance you take with any outdoor event. I could hear the band (Continuo - Gary Ruschman, Violin - Galina Dordevic, and Cello - Nick Miller & Joni Griffith) but at times it was a bit faint from where we decided to set up chairs. While the cast does move around, I would recommend being a bit towards the close side for audio and visual purposes. Each location they perform (over 20 performances this summer alone) is different so you can easily modify where you are. And each performance is roughly 90 min or so with a short break where they offer some concoction... this time it was a Jalapeño Limeade that was suited to MN taste buds.

So, enough about the experience of seeing the work of Mixed Precipitation, what about the performance? This group takes an opera and breaks it down, and makes some changes to that the core story is there, and the core songs, but with a twist. I don't know the opera Faust much, but I am quite certain that originaly it had nothing to do with space travel. This version does. The main characters are there: Faust - Maurice Fields, Méphistophélès - Justin Spenner, Marguerite - Corissa Bussian on the date I saw it, Valentine - Nick Miller, and Siebel - Jill Morgan. Everyone joins in on some ensemble numbers, or performs as part of the ensemble when needed. The core story is that Faust is an old man who feels that his work has amounted to nothing. He calls upon any one to help solve his problem and Méphistophélès shows up. Méphistophélès provides Faust with a vision of Marguerite at her spinning wheel, and gives him a potion that will make all his dreams come true. Faust drinks the potion, becomes younger, and (as we all know from the "make a deal with the devil" stories) eventually meets his fate in hell.

This production makes a few artistic changes... well, a lot of artistic changes and it works so well. The following is taken from the program/fan:

Act One: The University

Dr. Faust contemplates the futility of life. Hopeful young physicist Margie has a solution. Interplanar visitor Mephistopheles has a proposal.

Act Two: Division Corp

Faust has become the leader of a tech corporation. Division Corp is celebrating the launch of the Goldon Falcon. Valentine bids farewell to his sister (Margie) and friend before boarding the ship to go to Space City. Mephistopheles (in disguise) taunts the crowd and tempts them with the power of dæmonium. The engineers chase him out. Faust pursues his love for Margie.

And the rest... you need to go watch. Suffice it to say that Siebel shows up and yearns to confess her love to Margie, Margie ends up on Space City, Valentine returns from space conquests, and wait...do I hear them singing a song by Depeche Mode? Yes, indeed I do. This wonderful group mixes pop songs into the opera to fully make it their own. Each Depeche Mode song was selected and added perfectly into the story line, and the whole work was a joy to watch. Suffice it to say the cast is amazing. All five of the leads are wonderful singers (who you can hear around town with various groups so keep your eyes open), and the ensemble matched their energy perfectly. Even over the wind off the river, I could hear the voices when singing. At times when they spoke it became a bit more difficult however the actions taking place made the story clear. For those songs in French, there were supertitles that gave the core of what was being sung. 

While I caught this show late in the season, there are still two more performances in the Twin Cities. Keep track of this company and make a point to see them next season. You will not regret it.