Sister Morticia recently saw The Alchemic Order's The Picture of Dorian Gray in Greenwich. She has kindly agreed to review this unique production. Over to you Sister Morticia....
The Picture of Dorian Gray, The Alchemic Order, Greenwich
11th September 2014
by Sister Morticia
“Dorian
Gray requests the pleasure of your company at his London Townhouse for an
intimate evening of art, intrigue and distant pleasures.”
An
invitation that few should resist; if Dorian Gray invites one to his home, it
is the promise of a soiree not to be easily forgotten. It is also the start of something quite
mysterious. There is no venue, aside
from the information that the town house is in Greenwich. Only after booking a ticket does one receive
the full address, adding to the feeling that his is a very special, exclusive
event that just a lucky few can be part of, only those that have sought out
such magic and strayed from the well trodden path.
So
it is only fitting that this review should continue that feeling, for to strip
aside the mystery could ruin the experience.
This is an evening for those who want to wrap themselves in the mystery
of Dorian Gray and are willing to abandon the modern world and delight in
something more unusual.
The Alchemic Order's The Picture of Dorian Gray
Photo Credit: The Alchemic Order (from Facebook Page)
(http://www.thealchemicorder.com)
When
arriving at the Georgian town house, the audience members must knock on the
door and be greeted by Victor and Mrs Leaf, the house servants who become our
guides for the evening. It is they who
lead us into the drawing room, and invite us to sit down under the silk tented
ceiling and listen to the pianist who plays in the corner of the room.
Champagne is served, we wash our hands in water floating with rose petals and
we are given information about the evening. That we are guests in the house,
and that we should move around to follow the action, to sit close and listen to
the people we shall meet.
It
is Victor and Mrs Leaf who inform us that Dorian Gray is ready to meet his
guests and lead us to his bedroom of black silk, incense, mirrors and
darkness. Before Mr Gray makes his
appearance, there is an almost spiritual cleansing of the room, where Victor
reads from an ancient book and Mrs Leaf uses a prayer bowl or singing bowl
which resonates around the room. It
feels like the beginning of a séance...
During
the evening we meet Basil Hallward, an artist besotted by his new model Dorian
Gray; the creature who has inspired his greatest work, a painting in which he
has invested his very spirit. We meet
Lord Henry Wotton, who is intrigued by Dorian, fascinated by him and takes him
out into the world. We are drawn deeper
and deeper into the life of Dorian, into his joy, into his darkness. We move
around the house, out into the garden where there is a Doric temple of a theatre,
lights guiding our attention and our way.
We are outside voyeurs to Dorian's love, his indiscretions, his
passions, his crimes. We spy on the characters as they talk in other rooms
above and below us. There are smoke and mirrors, absinthe and opium, love and
death, cruelty and passion.
The Alchemic Order's The Picture of Dorian Gray
Photo Credit: The Alchemic Order (from Facebook Page)
(http://www.thealchemicorder.com)
To
explain the evening breaks the spell. It is a fascinating experience, extremely
atmospheric. Mrs Leaf and Victor are the
only ones who acknowledge us, but remain part of the story, interacting with
the other characters. They provide the comedy in the evening and are quite a
double act, bickering and chiding each other. During the break in proceedings,
Victor serves drinks and Mrs Leaf has been known to read the tarot – when the
below-stairs maid has not moved the cards!
Dorian is elegant, initially innocent, then petulant, narcissistic and
distant from those who love him. Two
actors, Tommy Fitzer and Jamie Walker alternate the role of Dorian. Samuel Orange is perfect as the incorrigible
Lord Henry; he is the one who speaks in Wilde's voice with the witticisms and
gentle immorality of a man who has enjoyed all the experiences of life that
riches and intelligence can bring.
A
haunting, atmospheric and very intimate evening for those that wish to escape
reality and immerse themselves in the world of Dorian Gray.
The Alchemic Order's The Picture of Dorian Gray
Photo Credit: The Alchemic Order
(http://www.thealchemicorder.com)
I
very much look forward to the next production from The House of Orange – it
promises to be quite magical!
@sistermorticia
11th September 2014
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