Created by Emmanuel Theatre Company
Review by Eve Nugent
Having dodged through millions of people handing out flyers on the Royal Mile, one lands in ETC’s The Picture of Dorian Gray, a unique adaptation of Oscar Wilde’s genius Victorian novel. A charismatic narrator, sporting an unflattering fake nose, immediately welcomes the audience, poking fun at certain members and instantly breaking the 4th wall, which is further shattered throughout the show. The comedic and whacky tone of this production is achieved forthwith.
The narrative simply follows the traditional story of Wilde’s Dorian Gray, handsome and wealthy yet morally corrupt. Painted by Basil Hallward, Gray wishes to remain young forever whilst the portrait ages in his place. However, this new and fresh script injects comedy into almost every word, with themes and ideas reminiscent of Mischief Theatre’s The Play That Goes Wrong. Deliberately lost props and ill-timed sound cues add to this whimsical effect, further accentuated by a spontaneous ABBA number halfway, as well as a Dizzee Rascal rave. At these moments, certain facial expressions of older audience members turned sour in the expectance of a romantic retelling of their favourite novel. Nevertheless, the infectious energy of the four young girls carried such disappointment unashamedly.
Through the clever use of slapstick, random music, and quick wit, this production is highly entertaining. This show is perfect for those seeking fifty minutes of unserious and chaotic fun.
Review by Even Nugent (contact@corrblimey.uk)
An undergraduate French student at the University of Edinburgh, Eve has a diverse interest in theatre and performance. Eve’s theatrical focus has recently broadened into writing and directing, for instance with her modern Othello adaptation for the University’s Shakespeare Company. Her creative attention stretches also to classical music, as she plays the flute, piano and guitar with equal fervour. She thus looks forward to watching whatever the Fringe has to offer, irrespective of genre!
