Jack Fox and Daisy Bevan in Dorian Gray at the Riverside Studios, London. Picture: Roy Tan
Dorian Gray continues at the Riverside Studios, London until 10 May.
Innocence and corruption collide in Ruby in the Dust’s dark and seedy production of Oscar Wilde’s late Victorian novel, Dorian Gray.
The popular piece, which continues to be adapted for the stage and screen, focuses on the story of the naïve Dorian Gray who sacrifices his soul for pleasure and depravity. The company benefits from an intimate performance space which allows the audience to position themselves as close spectators to the downfall of the vain, yet likeable Dorian.
Jack Fox is a striking Dorian. He is humorous as the young man under the strict influence of Lord Henry (Joe Wredden), and exploits the comic potential of Wilde’s writing as he delivers his lines with ease. He also establishes a strong stage dynamic with Daisy Bevan who plays his love interest, Sibyl Vane. Both actors are confident on stage and are convincing as young people obsessed with perfection. A particular highlight is the confrontation which is staged during the middle of the play, as Dorian emerges as a character incapable of living within a world without fantasy.
Fox excels in the later parts of the play as he is ‘reborn’ as a reckless thrill-seeker. He avoids the temptation to play the character as entirely unrepentant, instead adding vulnerability to the role. His last scenes are staged well by director Linnie Reedman who transforms the performance space into a tense, confrontational area which is complemented by slow, eerie music as the cast sing about “a drop of poison”. Reedman has also adapted the piece alongside composer and lyricist Joe Evans.
Dorian Gray is a well-structured and atmospheric production, which poses the question: what would you do for eternal youth and beauty?
Rebecca Gordon
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