Few people may be related to Oscar Wilde's famous novella of 1890 Dorian grey pictures With the 21st century full of technology, reels heavy social media. But for Tony-nominated director Kip Williams, this landmark work of queer literature and the fast-paced digital landscape of Tiktok are perfect for it – the purity that brings them together is the whole point of his new Broadway show.
Wilde's story follows the young, wealthy and beautiful Dorian Gray. After having portraits taken by the talented painter Basil, Dorian was eager to age the picture, not him, not him. Dorian's subsequent hedonism and evil life transformed from a pleasant horror to a horror when an unknown force gave him his wish. Williams production stars succession Emmy winner Sarah Snook is all 26 characters who come on stage in a two-hour, unprocessed competition. But the production of the camera crew streams live on the middle of the stage to the huge screen. On stage, the group follows the Snook, sometimes with a fixed camera on the tripod, sometimes with a full body-stabilized cam, and sometimes even an iPhone. But while audiences following the actress might see her directing intricate camera lenses, wigs, props, accents and costumes, in the middle of the stage, a huge portrait-oriented screen filled with the black background behind her. See the camera operator following Snook to a desolate corner? On the screen, she was actually at a fine dinner party. Snooker stepped out of the stage under the eyes of iPhone? She was actually Dorian who was trapped in a night of revelry - equipped with Snapchat and Tiktok filters that twisted her appearance.
This is a story of an ancient theater in the modern era, and it is a careful act of balance that Williams told Rolling stones He wants to realize the stage by highlighting the way performances intertwined with our digital lives.
"The emergence of smartphones and their production in our lives (meaning) you are viewed in every moment of life. Human skill experience, this is not something new. But mobile phones mean that we are more and more in the abstract space - in abstract space, vulnerability, poorer, less complexity, less complexity, and more expansion, greater attitude, greater competitive power, for Who Who Who Who Who Who Who Who Who sees seed seed, this is a troubled person, a troubled person, a troubled narrative. "The moral crisis that Wilde explores in this play is that human beings have the right to self-realize, explore their own self-awareness, pleasure, desire full desire. But what happens to us when the self becomes unaffected without consequences? Who do we become? ”
Williams grew up in Australia and was first introduced to Wilde’s job in high school where he played the wealthy debut Cecily Cardew The importance of seriousness. So when it's time to make his version Dorian Gray, He told Rolling stones Making the script a stake feels high not only because of the work’s reputation, but because of his personal connection. “As a queer thinker, Wilde is very aware of the way people express themselves, especially in gender and gender,” Williams said. “So, I gave this incredible entry point to his writing as a young age. Meeting his work is an important part of my own queer awakening.”
Difficult source material
Dorian Gray Historically, this is a bit of any kind of performance. There is a lunatic running on the streets of London, drinking, clubs and fucking his inner satisfaction, and a barrel of British aristocrats representing various vices that may lead to a man’s destruction. Plus the big moral question about which self you let people see - and whether this deception can change who you are - it is understandable why it presents many dramatic challenges. But, like the sound behind all 26 characters, snook isn't just giving her the right lines. The Snook also has to interact with pre-recorded versions placed on various screens on the stage, or hits on the iPhone. Sometimes she even breaks the fourth wall and talks directly to the audience. "This relationship with the audience is crucial to the way the piece works. It's a metaphor for Dorian's social viewing and being looked at by his portrait." It's a heavy lifting - a snooker becomes right with incredible skills and awesome abilities that Williams still can't overcome.
"It's undoubtedly the most complex theater I've ever directed. But working with Sarah has always been one of the greatest artistic experiences of my life," Williams said. "My brain denies that Sarah won't show up for her next 60 years. There's a great one Dorian Gray Ironically, the idea comes with pre-recorded footage, she is probably 80 and opposite her 36-year-old self. But you know, Sarah might have other ideas about it. ”
Modern portrait pattern
During Williams' performance, the snooker and the huge screen in front of the audience depict the inevitable picture. Mobile phone cameras have become tools used by humans and the reasons for further distortion in the eyes of others. But while Williams said he knew how the show keenly pointed out the problem of unaffected self in the organization, he said listeners may not recognize when the drama also showed its solutions.
“It’s an antidote to the audience every night, having the entire crew say to the audience on stage, every night,” Williams said. “It’s an ensemble, he plays live for you in this room and works so beautifully with each other to support Sarah’s performance. The curtain call at the end of each show is incredible because you’re suddenly sucked by an individual, unchecked self-stories and back to the community.”
The world has changed a lot since then Dorian's pictures It has also changed since Williams first staged the show in November 2020. In fact, it almost felt like guaranteeing that the world would change the world again before Williams and his entire team-including his sister Clemence as a composer and sound designer-partnered in Chapter 78 of June, taking part in six Achards in June, including one of the best dramas, including one of the best ones. But for Williams, the idea that humans use to execute might change is how powerful the royal family’s original work is.
"The portrait frame of the screen is purposeful. It's about portraiture. We've been living in a time when we've been shooting our own video portraits. And Tik Tok is the central canvas of 2025," he said. "It's a story of speaking to the present. It's a story of the prophetic quality of Wilde to the one that could do it 135 years ago."
When asked if Wilde would appreciate the features - perhaps wanting to join the app by himself - Williams smiled. "I think he will be absolutely doubly."