Oscar Wilde and Dorian Gray

Oscar Wilde
(1854-1900)
Irish
studied at Oxford under John Ruskin

Wrote:

Salome (in French while in Paris, no big deal)

The Picture of Dorian Gray

The Importance of Being Ernest

Vera

convicted of gross indecency with other men and imprisoned for two years' hard labor.

Wrote:
De Profundis

released from prison, left the UK for France never to return

Wrote:
Balad of Reading Gaol

died at 46

a picture of Matthew and my visit to his grave in Paris

I have seen The Importance of Being Ernest in many an independent theatre. But, I truly fell in love with Wilde's work upon seeing his novel's adaptation for stage by Neil Bartlett for the Abbey Theatre in Dublin.

Not only is this performance adapted perfectly for the modernly vintage Abbey stage, but it did not lack a brilliant message from Gray nor witty innuendo from Lord Henry in its presentation.

Tom Canton fit's Wilde's Gray perfectly with his decadent blonde waves jeux d' opposition to the dark levels of art and disgust he portrays with vigor.
I was most smitten my Jasper Britton's presentation of the "wise" aristocrat, Lord Henry Wotton. He creates an endearingly comical, mentor type character that could call anyone to the deepest and darkest of city life with him. His witty prose keeps you wanting more pearls to fall from his lips, only to find that the pearls are burnt and blackened. That every word is a science experiment for the mind of his company.  He corrodes his most prized work of art, Dorian, only to find conscience does exist in his boyish friend; and this ultimately destroys him. Britton's attention to detail as an actor creates a real person, a person you love to hate. The intriguing individual you want to run into at a bar and chat with for hours. Always smoking, and always brushing the ash from his pressed suit from the first chipper scene where you meet Lord Henry, to the final with his crooked legs in a wheelchair, the actor is brilliantly consistent and attuned to detail in his presentation.

Thank you, Bartlett and Britton for bringing me the art that I have been yerning for. For the ministration of detail, symbolism, and innovation.
A special thank you to Chris Davey for your delicate but profound use of light. You pull your viewer through the story without the distraction of lighting design, but not alleviating drama that is theatre.
Kandis Cook is the set and costume designer. The set and use of The Picture tells the story in an opratic of balletic fashion that perspires drama, but the modern simplicity of the set keeps the performance personal. I want to see her work with Bartlett again.

Seriously, go to Dublin if it is only to see this performance.
It runs on the Abbey Stage until November 17th.
An Irish author's novel set for the Irish theatre by Irishfolk.
I feel like it is one of those presentations I read about 50 years later.  "unico" is the word in spanish- translated it would mean "only, the only one, the only time, the only place..." the word "unico" also has an "extraordinary" connotation that unique just doesn't (i need a word in english!)

http://www.abbeytheatre.ie/whats_on/event/the-picture-of-dorian-gray/