Truth is Rarely Pure and Never Simple

Dorian

Open Space Arts has an incredible hit on its hands. It’s a brilliant and electrically charged drama, laced with dark comedy, that’s both scholarly and cerebral, intelligent and erotic. Written with lots of wit and incorporating contemporary music, style and celebrity names, this two-act play melds The Picture of Dorian Gray with events from the life of its author, Oscar Wilde. The parallels between Dorian Gray and his acquaintances, and the Irish playwright and his world, is uncanny and enlightening. But, as Wilde often said, we learn through this play that “The truth is rarely pure and never simple.”

Known primarily as a Victorian playwright, Oscar Wilde is best remembered for his nine plays, which include LADY WINDERMERE’S FAN, AN IDEAL HUSBAND, A WOMAN OF NO IMPORTANCE and, most especially, THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING EARNEST. He also wrote poetry, like his final work, “The Ballad of Reading Gaol.” He penned some shorter fictional works, as well, such as “The Canterville Ghost and “The Happy Prince.” The Picture of Dorian Gray, however, is Wilde’s only complete novel.

The novel was first published in 1890 in a literary periodical, Lippincott’s Monthly Magazine. But the popular Gothic horror story later appeared as a novel the following year. Like much of Wilde’s writing in the late 19th century, this was a very controversial story. Its protagonist, Dorian Gray, is a beautiful and vainglorious young man, who has his portrait painted by admiring artist, Basil Hallward. Captivated by his own image in the picture, Dorian muses with sadness that he will eventually grow ugly and older, while his painting will forever remain the same. So Dorian makes a Faustian wish to stay forever young and handsome, while his portrait continues to age and reflect his sins. Strongly influenced by a older friend, Lord Henry Wotton, Dorian enthusiastically begins to pursue a wild, hedonistic life of pleasure. As Dorian becomes more cruel, corrupted and depraved, the painting, locked safely away in the attic, magically changes into a hideous and grotesque record of Dorian’s moral decay.

Because the novel was used as evidence against Oscar Wilde during his 1895 trials for indecency, playwrights Phoebe Eclair-Powell and Owen Horsley have written a smart blending, a dramatic hybrid between the playwright and his novel. The writers have carefully intermingled events from Oscar Wilde’s life with the horror story of Dorian Gray. The fusion is sharp, organic and truly inspired.

 Chicago Director Aaron Holland has drawn from his vast experience as a 20-year veteran of the theatre. A director, actor and playwright, Mr. Holland’s creativity is challenged as he staged this play within the intimate Open Space Arts black box theatre. His sheer inventiveness makes for a visually stunning production. The strong performances he’s extracted from and guided through his trio of gifted actors, result in a production of fearless ferocity. This Renaissance Man is also credited with Designing the Sound, Costumes and Projections, as well. Phoebe Huggett’s Set Design makes excellent use of the limited theatre space. The scenic design consists of yards of red twine that’s been draped upon the walls and wound around the supporting pillars. The space is accented by the dozens of props (provided by Marz Allswede) and costume pieces, all hanging within reach around the room. Lex Newman’s Lighting Design is inventive and adds yet another dimension of surrealism to the play.

The three actors who play every character in this play, including the Narrators, are absolutely miraculous. Each actor is extremely talented and demonstrates a vigorous versatility that’s unmatched. Luke Gerdes (TANGO at PrideArts), is Actor One/Atropos. The petite, blonde actor portrays Dorian, Lord Alfred Douglas (Bosie) and Mrs. Vane. He’s simply a human dynamo, an actor who’s always in constant motion. Brian Kulaga is Actor Two/Clotho. This talented actor with the beautiful singing voice plays artist Basil Hallward, James Vane, and several other characters. As Actor Three/Lachesis, terrific actor Anthony Kayer (WAR OF THE WORLDS, CAT’S CRADLE at Lifeline) is challenged with playing Oscar Wilde, as well as Lord Henry Wotton, Sybil Vane and others. All three of the actors sing and dance and look great with everything they say and do in this play.

This exciting, eclectic and electrifying new work, having its Chicago Premiere at Open Space Arts, is a clever mashup of the fictional novel, The Picture of Dorian Gray and the real life of novelist, playwright and poet, Oscar Wilde. As English writers Phoebe Eclair-Powell and Owen Horsley have shown through their play, the parallels between the two are uncanny. Director Aaron Holland’s dynamic production fuses Victorian attitudes with 21st century sensitivity, style and music. The result is a contemporary-feeling remix, a presentation of Oscar Wilde’s timeless tale of unlimited vanity, living for pleasure and extreme excess. The focus is on an obsession with beauty and self image. This play may, or may not, be the pure and simple truth about the controversial, Irish-born playwright. But then, as Wilde often said, “The truth is rarely pure and never simple.”    

Highly Recommended

Reviewed by Colin Douglas

Presented November 28-December 14 by Open Space Arts, 1411 W. Wilson Ave., Chicago.

Tickets are available at the door, by calling 773-773-7837 or by going to their website, www.openspacearts.org.

Additional information about this and other area productions can be found by visiting www.theatreinchicago.com.