Tucked in a corner of the lusciously green Griffith Park Zoo and surrounded by tall and shining lighting fixtures sits a wooden stage at the epicenter of a small, sloped hill. As the sun set on Aug. 7, dozens of people from across Los Angeles set down blankets and watched with anticipation as the stage filled with gorgeous lights and vintage costumes for Christopher Marlowe’s “Doctor Faustus.” And so began another day of the Griffith Park Free Shakespeare Festival.  

Melissa Chalsma, the artistic director of Independent Shakespeare Co. — a theater troupe also known as “Indie Shakes” — said the group produces the festival to make theater accessible, communal and, most of all, enjoyable. For over 20 years, the Griffith Park Free Shakespeare Festival has been an annual summer event, spanning from late June to the end of August, with no admission fee.

From June 25 to July 27, Indie Shakes performed Shakespeare’s “Love’s Labour’s Lost,” but even though the theater company shares his name, it does not exclusively perform Shakespearean plays.

For the August leg of the festival, Indie Shakes is performing “Doctor Faustus,” a 17th-century Elizabethan play written by Shakespeare’s contemporary, Christopher Marlowe. David Melville, an actor in films such as “Ironclad” (2011) and “Hamlet” (2009), who is also the co-founder and managing director of Indie Shakes, played Dr. Faustus. The audience followed Melville’s performance as the doctor makes a deal with the devil for immeasurable power. 

“Doctor Faustus” is categorized as a tragedy; the plot deals with demons, dark magic and eternal damnation. And yet, Melville’s Dr. Faustus isn’t just lonely and tortured, but sassy, awkward and often hilarious. Intense drama opened a door to comedy, irony and even a little bit of music. 

Heena Lodhia, an audience member and Rossier School of Education academic advisor, said that her favorite part of the play was the scene in which the seven deadly sins introduce themselves to Dr. Faustus and the audience with a little song and a musical beat. This scene represents a creative adaptation on Indie Shakes’ part, as the scene in the written play only mentions brief speeches from the characters that are meant to give the doctor delight.

“The song that they perform and the fact that each deadly sin introduced themselves, that’s definitely a huge highlight for me,” Lodhia said. 

Chissay Espana, another audience member at the festival, also said that scene was her favorite. 

“I wasn’t [expecting the singing parts] … but it was a good twist,” Espana said. “I liked it.”

Despite the singing, the production was unafraid of performing its heavier topics, no matter the intensity or potential gore. A big scene features Dr. Faustus being stabbed and beheaded, his murderers joyfully recounting their plans for his corpse, and the doctor coming back to life. Within a few minutes, the audience was gasping from shock, cringing from disgust and then gasping again from horror — quite the emotional roller coaster.

“When he was being ambushed and beheaded, I was a little bit shocked,” Espana said. “And then just seeing him come alive once again was pretty shocking.”

The range of actors — from comedic relief to terrifying intensity — was a sign of not only the talent poured into the show, but also the hard work and thoughtfulness given to its production. 

“The monologues [were my favorite],” said Ayesha Motiwalla, a long-time audience member of Indie Shakes. “Sometimes you read a monologue and it’s super dry, and then you had Mephistopheles giving this incredible, deeply intense monologue. It was so engaging.”

Mephistopheles is the villain of the story — the demon who encourages Dr. Faustus to sell his soul to the devil and witnesses the doctor’s inevitable demise. This figure, meant to be a proud and presumably male spirit of Hell on the page, transformed into beautiful, charming and alluring Kalean Ung on stage, delivering powerful dialogue with a sultry smile. This scene offered yet another example of the clever ways Indie Shakes adapted the original play. 

Motiwalla has previously served as a volunteer for Indie Shakes’ summer festival, helping sell their merchandise and set up the stage. 

“As a volunteer, you get to see the behind-the-scenes and how the magic happens,” Motiwalla said. “And then as an audience member, you get to experience the magic a little more.”

For Lodhia, who hadn’t been to the festival before, the play encouraged her to come again. 

“I definitely would come back to see another … play,” said Lodhia.

Espana, who was also a first-time goer to the festival, felt similarly — citing her excitement to share the play with others. 

“I texted all my friends about it,” said Espana, “I didn’t know what to expect, but I think the play spoke a lot about repentance and how it was never too late to turn back, as far as deep into your temptations led.”

Decidedly, the night production of Dr. Faustus was incredible. Every scene flowed with the dedication that has allowed the festival to stay free and active for over 20 years alongside the talent that captured the hearts of so many in L.A. 

“It was incredible. The cast was amazing,” Lodhia said. “It’s so beautiful and it’s a great way to spend a summer night.”

Indie Shakes will produce “Doctor Faustus” at Griffith Park until Aug. 31 from Wednesdays to Sundays at 7 p.m.