JENN McGARRIGLE
The Picture of Dorian Gray is a philosophical horror novel by Victorian writer Oscar Wilde.
In the novel, Dorian Gray is a beautiful young man who serves as a muse for a painter. Gray is convinced by the painter's friend that beauty and sensual fulfillment are the only things worth pursuing in life. Upset by the knowledge that his beauty will fade with time, Gray later expresses his desire to sell his soul in order to remain young and beautiful while the picture the painter made of him grows old instead. The wish is granted and as Gray pursues a hedonistic lifestyle filled with self-indulgence and debauchery, he remains young and beautiful, while his picture ages and becomes more deformed with every sin.
Robinson Wilson, a playwright and theatre artist from the Comox Valley as well as a Vancouver Island University technical theatre program alumnus, wrote an adaptation of Wilde's story specifically for the VIU theatre department's spring production. He sees a lot of parallels between present society and the Victorians.
"It's about a narcissistic society obsessed with appearances," says Wilson. "I see many parallels between then and now. For example, the Victorians would have loved to selfie themselves. And at the core of the book, there are some very traumatic interactions that are almost word-for-word what you see happening every day."
Wilson's adaptation of The Picture of Dorian Gray is unique in that he's made the picture a character in the play.
"The Picture is this amazing avenue for dispensing Wilde's thoughts in a way that our audience can really grasp," he explains. "The Picture gets to say some horrible things in the play. As artists we have a duty to explore the nasty, dark places, what drives people to do what they do."
Miranda Lum, a second-year theatre diploma student who plays Dorian Gray, says with classic stories like this one, people are already familiar with the storyline and have certain expectations about what's going to happen. She's looking forward to surprising audiences.
"Some of the stuff we're doing will defy those expectations," she said, adding that the role is a new challenge for her because she gets to play a character she feels she has little in common with. "It's the type of character I never really considered playing – right now I am studying the manipulative tactics Dorian used to persuade people to do what he wanted, such as gaslighting and misdirection. It's going to be a lot of fun."
Gothic horror novels are right up Alexander Baliñski's alley – a first-year theatre diploma student, who plays the Picture. "The idea that the portrait could be a character is really exciting for me. Anyone who likes the darker characters with a bit of spice to them will enjoy this play."
What's exciting about this production of The Picture of Dorian Gray for Leon Potter, chairman of the theatre department, is that there are some community members who are part of the 12-member cast. The audience can also look forward to a very spooky, creative set that Potter designed and theatre students are building.
The Picture of Dorian Gray runs Wednesday to Saturday (March 1-4) and March 7-11 at Malaspina Theatre at 7:30 pm. Tickets are $15 for adults and $10 for students and seniors, except on March 1, which is pay what you can day.
Jenn McGarrigle is a writer with Vancouver Island University's communication department.