The Nature of Evil
This classic thriller is by Oscar Wilde, adapted for the
stage and directed by Alisa Stewart. It
is playing at the Masonic Temple in Beaverton, 4690 SW Watson Ave., through
February 10th. It is “an
immersive live theater experience,” which means that a limited number of people
are in the same space as the actors onstage.
For more information, go to their site at www.experiencetheatreproject.org
Perhaps Evil, like Beauty, is in the Eye of the Beholder,
but when you combine the two, the results can be deadly! In the Biblical sense, God and Satan are the
representatives of Good and Evil. On Earth,
most of us would agree that Hitler was, perhaps, the best example of pure
evil. But in writers’ imaginations, it
is more complicated. Faust made a pact
with the devil for power and wealth; R.L. Stevenson had his Dr. Jekyll separate
good from evil, in the guise of Mr. Hyde; and Wilde has his youthful and
beautiful, Dorian Gray.
It seems that the youthful, handsome and innocent, Dorian
Gray (Katherine Grant-Suttie) has been set loose in the world untethered and
untutored, to face it on its own terms.
He falls into the clutches of Lord Henry (Walter Petryk), a thoroughly
unscrupulous and amoral being, who takes a fancy to the young fellow. He is so entranced that he persuades his
artist buddy, Basil (Amber Bogdewiecz) to paint a portrait of him, in which his
beauty is preserved forever on canvas.
“And, therein, lies a tale.”
Gray’s vanity is so great that he confesses that he’d sell
his soul, if only the picture would age and absorb his sins, if only he would
stay young and beautiful forever. And
so, the pact is sealed. Gray romances
and embraces illusions rather than realities. Sybil (Leslie Renee), an actress,
loses her charm when bathed in sunlight instead of spotlights and so he
discards her, but her brother Jimmy (Jeremy Gardels), is not so forgetful or
forgiving. Dr. Elaine (Emma Whiteside)
has her uses as a scientist, but once her usefulness is complete, he abandons
her, too. Even his faithful servant,
Parker (Ryan Pfeiffer) is maltreated, as well as well-to-do friends (Diana
Loverso & Steve Marshall).
His life descends into opium dens, blackmail and even murder
until, at last, he must confront…but that would be telling, wouldn’t it?! The labyrinths of twists and turns, both of
the mind and set, is engrossing, as you follow along with the story/characters
and are immersed in it. Stewart has done
an amazing job of adapting this material into a two-hour plus show, as well as mapping
out (w/designer, Tyler Buswell) the intricate scenic routes. The authentic
costumes (Alana Wight) and choice of cast are also assets to this wonderful
theatrical experience. I did miss,
though, that the artist of the paintings was not given credit, as they were
quite good. This is pure story-telling
style at its best, as well as some great portrait artistry by Raziah Roushan
But, as thrilling as it all was, the honors of the day must
go to Grant-Suttie as Gray. She is
extraordinary, one of the best performances I’ve ever seen in all my years in
theatre (40+)! The way she weaves in and
out of various moods, like a snake, from manipulative, to charming, to
vulnerable, to explosive, is mind-boggling.
In the end, which Gray survives, the innocent or the profane? She is a powerhouse on the stage and yet
never overpowers the other actors, except when part of the character, a
beautifully, modulated performance! She
has quite a pedigree, according to her bio, and this is her Portland debut. Let us hope we can keep her around for a
while. Check her out at www.katherinegrantsuttie.com
Limited tickets for the remaining shows are available, so
best get them now. Don’t miss this! I highly recommend
this production. If you do choose to see
it, please tell them Dennis sent you.
--DJS
No comments:
Post a Comment