David reviews Dorian Gray by The Courtyard Youth Theatre

The Senior Youth production of Dorian Gray can be described in one word: fantastic. The Director, Rebecca Cook, skilfully brings Oscar Wilde's work into the modern era, presenting a relevant and important message about social media that everyone should heed. From the superb adaptation of the novel to stage, to the excellent use of lighting and sound design to deepen the emotion of each scene, Dorian Gray showcases the impressive capabilities of young people in theatre. It conveys a critical message about the digital age and its negative impact on individuals who are on the receiving end of online hate.

This adaptation follows the same plot as the novel, where Dorian has a portrait painted of himself that is so beautiful he wishes to never age, and so the portrait ages in his stead. Dorian then pursues a life of hedonism, seeking pleasure above anything else for 18 years. As he lives this life of indulgence and pleasure, his painting ages and bears the signs of his sins whilst he remains youthful and beautiful. In this version, Rebecca Cook uses a photograph instead of a painting and places Dorian in Hollywood as an actor. The base of the original story complements the modern-day setting spectacularly.

One of the most powerful scenes portrays Sybil's suicide as a result of the hate comments she receives online following her poor acting performance. This poignant moment underscores the profound effect social media has on her self-perception. This negative portrayal of social media is further emphasized by Dorian’s fear of others discovering the reality of his photograph, introducing the theme of dual identity to highlight that how people appear online is often not who they truly are. Additionally, in another impactful scene, Dorian tries to escape the sins of his past by attempting to run off stage, only to be dragged back by the characters of Basil, Sybil, James, and Alan, all of whom have died because of his actions. This scene represents the inescapable consequences of one's actions online, illustrating that everything we do on the internet leaves a digital footprint, making it impossible to run from our 'sins' without repercussions.

The direction of the play effectively conveys these warnings about social media. The lighting designer, Keiron Thomas, creates a sense of fear, panic, and danger when Dorian looks upon the picture of himself. The frequent use of red light in these scenes portrays Dorian's panic at the thought of his true nature being revealed and his reputation destroyed. It reflects the reality for many people online, who hide behind facades to manipulate others. Thomas also employs spotlights to great effect, allowing the actors' talents to shine by focusing the audience's attention solely on the characters. Another well-implemented aspect of the stagecraft was the score, composed by Hereford College of Arts, which fit the style and setting of the play perfectly and complemented the lighting to create drama and tension on stage. Unfortunately, at one point, the music was too loud, making it difficult to hear some of the actors, which was disappointing.

The sound design and effects were well-executed and worked especially well with the lighting in scenes where Dorian looks upon his photograph, creating a sense of paranoia with a disorienting whisper that echoes around the theatre. The minimal set design contributed wonderfully to the production, allowing the actors to shine. A main feature of the set was large screens on the back wall of the stage, used to display social media posts and videos that contributed to the story. This modern twist was one of my favorite aspects of the production, elevating the story and production overall.

The Senior Youth of the Courtyard Theatre displayed professionalism throughout the night, adapting well to several hiccups that can be attributed to opening night nerves. Setting the play in the modern era made the actors feel at home, especially with the focus on social media. Despite the strong overall performance from the cast, Jessica Warburton’s portrayal of Basil Hallward stood out for her consistent delivery of lines and acting skills throughout the production. Additionally, Caydon Cooke’s portrayal of Dorian Gray was powerful and emotional, showcasing his ability to skilfully deliver lines and guide the production through Dorian Gray’s descent into a hedonistic lifestyle. Unfortunately, some actors struggled slightly with their lines, leading to mistakes, and others were rather quiet in key moments, especially when the music was loud, making it difficult to hear them. However, these issues are likely to be addressed as the actors become more confident in their performance.

Overall, this show was excellent and well worth watching.