Janusz Żak (bass-baritone) deserved a huge round of applause for his portrayal of Mephistopheles. It was truly a showcase of vocal and acting skills. His devilish incarnation shimmered with shades of interpretation. He was at times demonic, at others sarcastic. Żak was calculating, cold, like a politician playing on even the basest emotions of voters, or an unethical lawyer trying to squeeze every last penny out of his clients. At the same time, he managed to instill a certain distance and a sense of humor into his role. This wasn’t a Mephistopheles from hell. Rather, he was the devil we encounter almost every day. In each of us.