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Daniel Goode as Basil, Jonathan Wrather as Henry
and Gavin Fowler as Dorian
The Picture of Dorian Gray
Malvern Theatres
***
Oscar Wilde's sinister story about a man
that succumbs to hedonism when gifted with never growing old is a
renowned classic worldwide.
So, I can understand why there was an attempt to
try something different in this new production by Malvern Theatres,
Tilted Wig Productions and Bromley's Churchill Theatre which is
currently on tour.
Although it's difficult to judge what this
version would be like in full swing as due to illness, one of the
actresses was unable to perform, which led to two of the roles being
read off scripts on stage.
That's partly because most of the cast play
several roles; but when you are faced by a scene with two people reading
monotonously off a paper script to each other, it does kill the mood and
verge on amateurish.
My advice to the company would be to take more
understudies on tour as back up.
That said, there were sadly other issues with
this production too, particularly the slow pace that prevented any sense
of tension or horror.
It was billed as being recommended for ages 11+
with scary scenes but that age is probably due to some sexualised
content as there is very little that frightens during the two and half
hour show.
The famous story centres around the young and
beautiful Dorian Gray, who is taken under the wing of an Avant Garde
influential member of London high society.
When a painter who adores Dorian gives him a
portrait, it changes the young man's life forever.
Focussing on the positives first, moving the
period from Victorian times to modern day works well as there are many
parallels with today's hipster fashions. The scenery also created a set
that had a nod to Victoriana with shabby chic peeling walls alongside
touches of opulence.
It's also amazing to hear how well Wilde's
acerbic and witty script is still relevant. Lines like 'there's no-one
in the House of Commons worth painting' raised many titters from the
audience.
After all, it's a wonderfully written piece of
work - even if it does make you feel melancholy about ageing.
Gavin Fowler gives a decent stab at Dorian and
creates a good menacing relationship with Jonathan Wrather, playing his
mentor Lord Henry Wotton. Wrather will look familiar due to his previous
TV roles as Pierce Harris in Emmerdale and Joe Carter in Coronation
Street.
It's Daniel Goode as painter Basil Hallward who
has the most charisma on stage though. There is something very natural
about his performance.
I also liked the fact that the painting of Dorian
Gray was a see-through piece of Perspex when first painted as it was
literally a true reflection of Dorian as he held it up to his face.
However, I don't think that worked so well when
the painting was revealed later on in the story as a slightly damaged
piece of Perspex. It left so much to the imagination and I think many in
the audience would have welcomed seeing what grotesque image it had
converted to.
In general, there seemed to be an assumption that
everyone already knew the story so there was lack of explanation and
clarity on many parts of the plot.
No-one around Dorian seemed to age, except Lord
Henry in a final scene, which made the time period difficult to gather
too.
While this production obviously aspired to
breathe fresh blood into this age-old tale, it sadly was let down by the
understudy situation and a lack of tension that left a disappointing
result. To 11-05-19.
Alison Brinkwell
07-05-19
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