Dorian Gray Hopes to Entrance Pasadena Audiences

Entranced by the beauty of his own portrait, Dorian Gray sells his soul to preserve his youth and pays a price. – Courtesy photo

This will be the second production of A Noise Within 2018-2019 season

A Noise Within (ANW), the acclaimed classical repertory theatre presents “A Picture of Dorian Gray,” based on the novella by Oscar Wilde and adapted and directed by Michael Michetti. “A Picture of Dorian Gray” performs Sept. 23 – Nov. 16.

Entranced by the beauty of his own portrait, Dorian Gray sells his soul to preserve his youth and pays a price. This haunting and seductive adaptation lets Wilde’s language and wit sparkle, but strips bare the themes of hedonism and the insatiable pursuit of pleasure.

“As Gray descends into debauchery, those around him are drawn to their own ruin like moths to a flame,” says Geoff Elliott, co-producing artistic director at ANW. Michetti’s adaptation, first produced at Boston Court Pasadena in 2006, explores the idolization of beauty and youth in an intimate, psychological journey that avoids the Gothic horror approach to the tale and instead follows the consequences of Dorian’s hedonistic lifestyle. “We’re thrilled to have Michetti’s vision come to life at ANW in a fresh, gripping take on Wilde’s story,” says Elliott.

“What draws me to this tale is its psychological truth,” says Michetti, who adapted the original novella and directs. “This is not the story of a rotting portrait; it is the story of a rotting soul.” In describing the production’s sensual and audacious aesthetic, Michetti says: “This adaptation uses elements of Greek Chorus and narrative dance, and the Victorian setting is filtered through a very modern sensibility, allowing us to tell this familiar story in a way that’s highly theatrical and has a distinctive style and point of view.”

In its original 2006 run, “A Picture of Dorian Gray” received two LA Drama Critics Circle Awards and was praised by critics: “beautifully composed” (LA Times); “Michetti has brought Dorian to breathtaking life over 100 years later and Wilde himself would surely be thrilled” (Entertainment Today).

“Wilde’s homosexuality was an integral part of his expression – publicly, privately and in his work. This adaptation restores the homoerotic aspects of the novella which have been conspicuously missing in most adaptations,” says Michetti. “Dorian, while clearly attracted to women, displays his most lasting and intimate relationships with the men who adore him. Indeed, anyone who will worship Dorian seems to be fair game, and those who he leaves in his wake include more men than women.”

“Many are more familiar with the story’s 1945 film adaptation or the Showtime series ‘Penny Dreadful.’ Both of those take huge liberties with what Wilde wrote. But those who do think they know the story think of it as a Gothic horror story. That’s not entirely true of Wilde’s novella, and definitely not true of this adaptation.”

The cast of “A Picture of Dorian Gray” includes Colin Bates as Dorian Gray, Frederick Stuart as Lord Henry Wotton, Amin El Gamal as Basil Hallward, Chelsea Kurtz as Sibyl Vane/Ensemble, Deborah Strang as Lady Brandon/Lady Narborough/Ensemble, Amy Tolsky as Mrs. Vane/Prostitute/Ensemble, Tania Verafield as Lady Henry/Gladys/Ensemble, José Angel Donado as James Vane/Ensemble, Abe Martell as Alan Campbell/Ensemble, Daniel Lench as Lord George Fermor/Thornton/Ensemble, Justin Lawrence Barnes as Adrian Singleton/Ensemble, and Dale Sandlin as “Romeo”/Sir Geoffrey Clouston/Ensemble.

Tickets for “A Picture of Dorian Gray” starting at $25 are available online at anoisewithin.org and by phone by calling (626) 356-3121.

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