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The Picture of Dorian Gray
Based on the novel by Oscar Wilde
Adapted by Robert Kauzlaric
Directed by Kevin Theis
At Lifeline Theatre
6912 N. Glenwood Ave.
Chicago, IL
Call 773-761-3377, www.lifelinetheatre.com
Tickets $30 -$20 seniors, $15 students, $10 rush tickets
Fridays at 7:30 pm
Saturdays at 4 & 8 pm
Sundays at 4 pm
Running time is 2 hours, 20 minutes with intermission
Through November 16, 2008
Dorian Gray quotes:
"But beauty, real beauty, ends where an intellectual expression begins. Intellect is in itself a mode of exaggeration, and destroys the harmony of any face."
"The only way to get rid of a temptation is to yield to it. Resist it, and your soul grows sick with longing for the things it has forbidden to itself, with desire for what its monstrous laws have made monstrous and unlawful.
"How sad it is! I shall grow old, and horrible, and dreadful. But this picture will remain always young. It will never be older than this particular day of June. . . . If it were only the other way! If it were I who was to be always young, and the picture that was to grow old! For that-for that-I would give everything! Yes, there is nothing in the whole world I would not give! I would give my soul for that!"
"My dear boy, no woman is a genius. Women are a decorative sex. They never have anything to say, but they say it charmingly. Women represent the triumph of matter over mind, just as men represent the triumph of mind over morals."
"Those who are faithful know only the pleasures of love: it is the faithless who know love's tragedies."
"Young men want to be faithful, and are not; old men want to be faithless, and cannot . . . "
Stunningly moving adaptation of Oscar Wilde’s gothic horror tale opens at Lifeline Theatre.
Robert Kauzlaric fluid adaptation of Oscar Wilde’s 1891 novel, “The Picture of Dorian Gray” becomes a mesmerizing and captivating horror story. Kevin Theis’ fast paced staging on Tom Burch’s two level set with terrific lighting from Kevin D. Gawley (including some amazing effects on the Gray portrait) produced work filled with mounting tension that builds into a scary gothic horror tale. Director Kevin Theis has double cast four of Dorian Gray’s associates—one to play the younger and one to play the elder. This works nicely as it underscores the theme of agelessness. Since the premise of “The Picture of Dorian Gray” is the perpetual youth of the boyishly handsome Dorian Gray, we see him stay young while all around him age. Nick Vidal, as Dorian Gray, is a real find. This guy not only has the boyish good looks necessary but he has terrific acting skills. Vidal sports a fine high British accent as he exudes enough warmth and charm to give Dorian Gray the pizzazz necessary to be believable. We see Vidal deftly move from hedonist to antagonized soul struggling with the effects of his sins. This role will launch Nick Vidal.
When the pretty boy Dorian Gray has his portrait painted by his adoring Basil Hallworth (Aaron Snook), Gray asks aloud that only the painting should age—not him. A supernatural power grants Dorian Gray eternal youth and beauty. Under the intense influence of his pal Lord Henry Wooton (Paul S. Holmquest in an excellent performance)—himself an opinionated cynical hedonist—Dorian Gray accepts Wooten belief that the only valid pursuit in life is for beauty and the pleasure of the senses. Wotton is Oscar Wilde’s alter ego who spouts many of Wilde’s witticisms.
Gray associates mostly with Wotton, Alan Campbell (Kyle A. Gibson) and Hallworth. Gray and Wotton live secret double lives enjoying the pleasures of men and women, the performing arts plus fine food and drink. Gradually Gray’s soul is aged by his sins through the gradual aging of his portrait. When Wotton gives Dorian a French novel that outlines and foreshadows his future, Dorian starts to unravel. His female love interest, Sibly Vane (Melissa Nedell) is an actor with whom Dorian loves her artistic beauty as her own. When she losses her passions for acting due to her love for him, Dorian cruelly dumps her. She commits suicide. His first sin and his first victim. More to follow?
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Fast forward 18 years. Dorian is still the young stud—his friends are older, fatter, wrinkled and balding. Gray is becoming a social outcast due to his over indulgence with pleasure. Dorian remains unmarried as the years pass by. His soul wallows in pride and sin as he drives all around him into the depths of depravity. Gray turns into a horrible tormented creature. I’ll not say more. We see how even the bravest of us fear what may lie within each of us. This eerie and thoroughly engaging production has some shocking elements as it effectively answers the question: What would you do if you had the freedom to indulge your every dark desire?
The work of the elder of Gray’s associates made for several terrific performances: Don Binder’s Hallword; Sean Sinitski’s Lord Henry; John Ferrick’s Alan Campbell and David Skbaria’s James Vane. I especially liked the articulate and confident take on young Henry Wotton by Paul S. Holmquest and, of course, the star turn by the talented Nick Vidal.
This flawless production is another example of the technical skills of the crew at Lifeline Theatre. Lifeline’s specialty is making classic novels come to life. Their “The Picture of Dorian Gray” is among their finest productions to date. This is a truthful rendition of a fine gothic horror tale. Don’t miss this gem!
Highly Recommended
Tom Williams
Tom99@chicagocritic.com for comments
Talk Theatre in Chicago podcast
Date Reviewed: September 22, 2008
Jeff Recommended
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