In the world premiere production of A Picture of Dorian Gray at The Theatre at Boston Court, more is laid bare than the actor Steve Coombs as the eponymous character. In this faithful adaptation of Oscar Wilde’s novella, Michael Michetti, who also directs, clearly presents the homoerotic nature of the novel and Wilde.
Set in London at the end of the 19th century, Michetti’s scenic design only suggests the ornate fussiness of that time by the use of gold picture frames or parts of frames on an otherwise bare, black stage. Amanda Seymour’s costume design furthers this abstraction, dressing most of the characters in black with a few splashes of color, while Dorian is clad in white.
Unlike American movies, this production isn’t coy about male nudity, and Coombs, with his rippling musculature, is well-cast. Yet the story isn’t just about men covertly loving men; it is a morality play about the dangers of vanity and a life lived selfishly for pleasure. Discovered by painter Basil Hallward (J. Todd Adams), Dorian is both his model and muse, a simple, rich boy from an aristocratic family.
The portrait in question is one that is never meant to be shown because it reveals the very secret of Basil’s soul, yet eventually it reveals the secret of Dorian’s soul. Basil’s friend, Lord Henry Wotton or Harry (Andrew Borba), intrudes upon Basil’s last session with Dorian, flirting with the subject as Basil finishes the portrait. Lord Harry declares it is Basil’s best work, but the underlying sexual preferences of both men are also unveiled.
Under Lord Harry’s influence, Dorian is quickly stripped of both his simplicity and his secret fiancée, Sibyl Vane (Annie Abrams). Lord Harry guides Dorian away from grief and molds Dorian into a heartless hedonist. Oddly, Dorian’s true nature and age are only reflected in his picture that he now keeps hidden.
Article comments
1 - Thomas M. Sipos
That 1973 TV movie version you have linked is also noteworthy because it was produced by Dan Curtis of Dark Shadows fame. What's more, Curtis uses music from Dark Shadows as a soundtrack to the film.
Thus, Dark Shadows fans will feel an odd sense of nostalgia watching/listening to this film.