Another amazing Fringe review - this time for Wilde Without The Boy: Wilde Without the Boy is an honest, eloquent and sometimes uncomfortable journey into one of the most witty and controversial writers of the late 19th century - Oscar Wilde. The play is a presentation of De Profundis, a heartfelt yet spiteful letter written to his lover. Without a doubt actor Gerard Logan portrays Wilde in a very accurate and sympathetic light. His performance oozes wit, intelligence and pain. The range of emotions Logan portrays is astonishing - at one moment Wilde is sharp and has a distinct hubris in his character (especially when discussing the letter’s recipient whom he calls “pathetic” on many occasions) but in the span of a few minutes can change into a miserable, weeping train wreck mourning the loss of his mother. Every sentence is delivered with the exact tone and mannerism one could expect out of Wilde himself. Logan completely engrosses himself into the role both in appearance, posture and behaviour. Logan also does a spectacular job in getting emotional responses from the audience. I felt genuinely uncomfortable when Wilde would recall traumatic experiences in his life and felt angry whenever he spoke about the betrayal he experienced from his lover. I felt I wasn’t watching someone play Oscar Wilde; I felt I was watching the Oscar Wilde. The play is also an excellent look into early gay relationships. Throughout Wilde’s only concern, so he says, is his art and beauty in it’s many forms. Later on in the performance Wilde is defending a sincere poem he wrote for his lover and he calls love between two men “genuine love” and something that is just as beautiful as any other love. I felt touched by the statement and by the performance of it. The simple set does wonders for the performance as it keeps the audience focused on what’s truly important - Wilde himself. The lighting was also very atmospheric dimming when Wilde was recalling something tragic and/or upsetting. Throughout they use sound clips of people talking during Wilde’s trial - I wish this had been utilized more as it created an unsettling atmosphere, which was reinforced by Wilde’s reactions. Overall Wilde Without the Boy is a stunning performance by a very talented actor. By the end you’ll be wanting to meet the real Oscar Wilde. Katie Ryde
Posted on: Mon, 21 Jul 2014 10:32:30 +0000
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