By Maria Bregman
The Picture of Dorian Gray is a classic novel by Oscar Wilde, first published in 1890. It tells the story of a young and beautiful man, Dorian Gray, who sells his soul for eternal youth and beauty, while his portrait ages and decays in his place. The novel explores the themes of art, morality, vanity, and corruption, and is considered one of the most influential and controversial works of literature in history.
The novel has been adapted into various forms of media, such as films, plays, musicals, and operas. However, none of them have been as daring and innovative as the latest theatrical adaptation, starring Sarah Snook as Dorian Gray. The adaptation, directed by Simon Godwin, is a modern and gender-bent version of the story, set in the present day, and featuring a female Dorian Gray, who is a social media influencer and a reality TV star. The adaptation also uses digital technology and live streaming to create a immersive and interactive experience for the audience.
A Brilliant and Bold Performance
Sarah Snook is best known for her role as Shiv Roy, the ambitious and ruthless daughter of a media mogul, in the hit TV series Succession. She has also appeared in films such as Steve Jobs, The Dressmaker, and Predestination. However, her performance as Dorian Gray is arguably her most challenging and impressive role to date.
Snook does the impossible onstage, playing a character who is both captivating and repulsive, both sympathetic and despicable, both human and monstrous. She portrays Dorian Gray’s transformation from a naive and innocent young woman, to a vain and selfish celebrity, to a cruel and corrupted villain, with remarkable skill and nuance. She also captures Dorian Gray’s charisma and charm, as well as her insecurity and guilt, with stunning authenticity and emotion. She makes the audience feel both fascinated and horrified by her character, and makes them question their own values and choices.
Snook is also a master of physical and vocal expression, using her body and voice to convey Dorian Gray’s changing appearance and personality. She also interacts with the digital elements of the show, such as the portrait, the camera, and the screen, with ease and confidence. She is not only a performer, but also a creator, as she improvises and adapts to the live feedback and reactions of the audience. She is a true star, who shines in every scene and steals every moment.
A Theatrical and Technological Triumph
The Picture of Dorian Gray is not only a showcase of Snook’s talent, but also a testament of Godwin’s vision and creativity. Godwin, who is the artistic director of the Shakespeare Theatre Company in Washington DC, has created a theatrical and technological triumph, that reimagines and reinvents Wilde’s novel for the 21st century.
Godwin has updated the story and the setting, to reflect the current issues and trends of our society, such as the obsession with beauty and fame, the influence of social media and reality TV, the impact of technology and artificial intelligence, and the consequences of climate change and environmental degradation. He has also changed the gender and the sexuality of the main characters, to challenge the stereotypes and expectations of the audience, and to explore the themes of identity and desire, from a different and diverse perspective.
Godwin has also used digital technology and live streaming, to create a immersive and interactive experience for the audience. He has collaborated with the digital agency 59 Productions, to design and produce the digital elements of the show, such as the portrait, the camera, and the screen. He has also invited the audience to participate and influence the show, by using their smartphones and social media accounts, to vote, comment, and interact with the characters and the events. He has also incorporated live feedback and reactions from the audience, to shape and change the outcome of the show. He has created a show that is not only a spectacle, but also a dialogue, between the performers and the viewers, between the stage and the screen, between the fiction and the reality.
The Picture of Dorian Gray is a show that is not to be missed, by anyone who loves literature, theatre, and art. It is a show that is not only entertaining, but also enlightening, and inspiring. It is a show that is not only a adaptation, but also a innovation, and a revolution. It is a show that is not only a picture, but also a mirror, of ourselves and our society.