I have a ukulele gig tonight (Thursday, Sept. 22) at the New Haven club Café Nine. I mention it because, as part of what I laughingly call my “act,” I perform a ukulele variation on the incantation speech from Marlowe’s Doctor Faustus. Just the one scene so far, but I’m working on more.
My father performed Dr. Faustus with marionettes. I do it with a ukulele. That play can withstand anything.
Here’s a video I made of the bit a couple of years ago, when testing out a new Flip camera. Friendly note to those alarmed by facial imperfections: I will be wearing my fake front tooth for tonight’s performance.
Most of my other material is not as theatrical as the Faustus thing, though if theater freaks come and call out for “Comes Once in a Lifetime” from Subways Are For Sleeping, gosh, I’ll try to play it.