While Buffalo’s Irish Classical Theater is normally a theater-in-the-round setting, one side of the auditorium has been blocked off to transform the stage into a set that combines elements of disco with chandeliers to merge Victorian London with queer club culture. “Dorian” follows a narrative that jumps between the plot of the novel, “The Picture of Dorian Gray,” and the life of the book’s author, Oscar Wilde, while making connections between the two stories. Only three actors make up the cast, and each of these three actors juggles multiple characters, based on both fictional and real personalities.
Current UB students are responsible for the show’s lighting, sound, and dramaturgy. Additionally, the title character is played by UB alumnus Kristopher Bartolomeo, in his first role with the ICTC. The actor has a BFA in Musical Theater from UB and prior experience with drag artistry, which informs several of his characters.
“Having a background in mime was also super helpful,” he noted.
Indeed, drag heavily influences this production of “Dorian,” where voguing is used during scene transitions; local drag queen Willa DeWhisp is credited in the program with co-choreographing the show alongside Bartolomeo.
While there are only three actors in the show, there is great chemistry between the three leads, even as they switch from Cockney to posh accents. Bartolomeo stated that working with a small cast has been helpful in the making of the show.
“I’ve never done this intimate of a production with so few people, so getting to create a world between the three of us has been really special!”
The show’s themes of debauchery are tied in with loving references to popular culture, and there are unexpected quotes inserted from sources like “Mean Girls” and Beyoncé. There are laughs throughout the show and enough self-aware humor that it feels as if the cast is speaking directly to the audience. In between the humorous scenes, there are shocking moments of persecution and setback, which highlight the plight of real queer artists in the distant and recent past.
It helps to already be familiar with the story of “Dorian Gray,” and perhaps to know a few details of Oscar Wilde’s life before seeing this play, but if not, the viewer should still be able to enjoy the show and the engrossing details. With glitter, confetti, dance, strobe lights and extravagant costumes, the show never ceases to be entertaining.
“Dorian” opened on March 28th, and the final performance will take place on April 13th.
Nadia Brach is an assistant arts editor and can be reached at nadia.brach@ubspectrum.com
