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THEATRE REVIEW: The Picture of Dorian Gray @Devonshire Park Theatre

 

The Picture of Dorian Gray

By Oscar Wilde at Devonshire Park Theatre, Eastbourne

“What does it profit a man if he gains the whole world and loses his soul?”

This bold new production based on the classic novel celebrates Wilde’s wonderful language and appeals to this mixed age audience. Featuring Wilde’s famous wit, The Picture of Dorian Gray is presented as a two act thriller with a narrative momentum which keeps the attention up until the final scenes of the play.

It’s a grand setting for a decadent play, worked up from the Oscar Wilde original this setting  by Titled Wig and Malvern Theatres is a well-crafted piece of theatre with their trade mark high production values. I’ve not seen a show of theirs I’ve not enjoyed and this evening’s production in the Devonshire Park Theatre was no exception. The theatre continues to improve, having just updated or rather retro modelled it’s lavatorrial facilities to high Victoriana – Mr Crapper ‘s finest porcelain no less, all brand new, but the kind of facilities one might expect in the house of one of the endless aunts referred to in Wilde’s plays.

With its efficient, clever walk on, walk off character intro’s depicting set changes, not only saving valuable time and fiddling but also making it clear that most of these characters live in the same interchangeable spaces, luxurious, indolent, at leisure, with some swift smart lighting the set is transformed into a cheap theatre, a dodgy desperate alley way or another stage, rather well done the lighting and tech crew. We were impressed.

The faded grader of the set, hinting at old things being constantly renewed, with some rather clever gas pipes being added to the Georgian walls was lovely, there were some excellent small touches; flowers faded and died which gave a subtle feeling of time moving on, even though the main protagonist is anchored in time, unchanged.

There’s a lot of set up in a Wilde novel, and the first act is mostly about the how and why, playing down the supernatural element is the only way to make this play work as the rest of it is so very much concerned with impact and indulgence.

The second act gets on with the meat and gravy of the play, Dorians descent into depravity, the way it leaves – his face – at least untouched and the hideous tragic destinies, impacts and immorality of the people around him. It’s a complex narrative filled with witty lines and awful sentiments, which is one of the reasons it is so delightful.

Titled Hat have stripped out the lurid, giving rave/dance metaphor rather than orgy and opium den and the play works better for this slight updating.  The director has brought the best out of this talented group of actors, none of whom were weak tonight, some of them covering multiple roles with adroit skill.

Overall this was a lovely piece of serious theatre, Wilde is always problematic to stage, what is left in, or taken out, how to ease the stifling class snobbery or sexism or even to lighten the blows of brittle slicing wit.

The company made some good judgement calls here, with good character development and engaging serious acting providing the heavy lifting around the narrative, allowing the audience to trust and connect with these rather obnoxious or pathetic people whilst allowing us to still find some understanding of the motivations and fear driving Dorian himself.

With some subtle soundscapes and tastefully modernised outfits we were presented with an insight not only into Wilde’s novel, but also into vanity and the ultimate responsibility to one’s own desires.

As we whizzed over Beachy Head with the full mood and a Baskerville fret spookily enfolding us and whispering us to our doom we pondered the themes and moods of this Dorian.

Good theatre should always leave you pondering. I’d have loved to have shoehorned in a metaphor about Instagram and selfie cultures, photo filters and the crafting of the perfect on-line persona, but this was such a seamless piece of good acting that it would seem vulgar to attempt such a thing. Conscience and cowardice really are just the same things after all.

Grab a programme, a lot of thought has gone into it and it’s – for once – a welcome accompaniment to this night of theatrical delight.

*****Recommended

Plays at the Devonshire Park Theatre, Eastbourne until Saturday, March 23.

For more info or to book tickets, click here:

Find out more about being a city councillor in Brighton & Hove

On May 2, 2019, residents will choose the councillors they want to represent them on Brighton & Hove City Council for the next four years.

BY becoming a local councillor you become a decision maker for your local area and a voice for residents in the city. But first, you must stand for election.

Nominations for candidates open on Monday March 25 and must be submitted by April 3.

CEO Geoff Raw
CEO Geoff Raw

The council is holding an information session this Friday morning (March 22) for potential candidates and agents to go along and find out more about the election process, the council and being a councillor.

The council’s Chief Executive Geoff Raw will explain about the nomination process, as well as explaining about the services the council provides.

If you want to attend RSVP to democratic.services@brighton-hove.gov.uk as soon as possible.

If you need any assistance at the sessions contact the Democratic Services team on 01273 291066.

For more information about the local election or how to stand as a candidate, click here: or contact the Electoral Services team on 01273 291999.


Event: Find out more about being a councillor in Brighton & Hove – Information session

Where: Brighton Town Hall Council Chamber, Bartholomew Rd, Brighton BN1 1JW

When: Friday, March 22

Time: 10am to 12 noon

 

1,000s of kids across South East admitted to hospital for drink and drug abuse

Kent and Hampshire exposed as having highest child hospital admission rates as experts warn of “frightening” rise in young addicts checking into rehab.

PUBLIC Health England revealed in their 2019 Child Health report that over 4,000 kids living in the South East were admitted to hospitals for drink and drug abuse – the second highest regional rate reported.

The data shows that 1,874 children were admitted to hospitals across the South East because of alcohol abuse PLUS an additional 2,536 being admitted for substance misuse.

The children admitted to hospital because of alcohol abuse were all under the age of 18, whilst those admitted for substance misuse were aged 15-24.

The report has pooled together hospital admissions data from the last three years.

The worst offending area across the South East for drug misuse hospital admissions was Kent; with 463 young people being admitted in the last three years, followed by Hampshire with 404.

As for alcohol, the worst areas were again Kent and Hampshire with 293 and 260 respectively, followed by Surrey with 254 child hospital admissions in 3 years.

The news comes at a time when leading private addiction treatment firm UKAT has announced a staggering 185% rise in the number of young addicts checking into rehab in the last 3 years.

In 2015, UKAT treated 93 patients aged 21 or under for substance based addictions, jumping dramatically to 266 in 2018.

Eytan Alexander, CEO of UKAT, believes that more pressure should be put on parents across the South East to have open and honest conversations with their children.

Eytan Alexander
Eytan Alexander

He said: “Prevention should be the priority in tackling the rise of drink and drug misuse amongst children in order to avoid the beast which is addiction developing in later life. It is imperative that parents living across the South East address the topic of drugs and alcohol early on with their children. Be informed and be clear. Discuss the harmful effects of alcohol and drugs on the body as well as the legal consequences associated with them. Do this for them whilst they’re young and we could start to see these numbers lowering.”

The report also reveals a link between alcohol-attributable hospital admissions in both males and females with teenage pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections as well as a link between young people who use recreational drugs with suicide, depression and disruptive behaviour disorders.

Scientists turn to music to fight cancer

University of Brighton students and scientists are leaving their labs to perform in an evening of music and song in aid of Cancer Research UK entitled Future for Hope.

Professor Huw Taylor
Professor Huw Taylor

Dr Annamaria Gal, Senior Lecturer and cancer research specialist in the University’s School of Pharmacy and Biomolecular Sciences (PABS), is leading the fundraising event.

Dr Annamaria Gal
Dr Annamaria Gal

She said: “This is dedicated to Professor Huw Taylor, our Emeritus Professor of Microbial Ecology, who sadly died of cancer at the age of 54 in 2017.”

“We want as many people to attend and raise money for this worthy cause.”

The event is at the University’s City Campus in Grand Parade, Brighton, on March 23 from 7pm to 9pm.

Entry is free, donations will be welcomed.

 


Event: Future for Hope – A fundraising concert for Professor Huw Taylor raising funds for Cancer Research

Where: Sallis Benney Theatre, 58-67 Grand Parade, Brighton BN2 0JY

When: Saturday, March 23

Time: 7pm

Cost: Free entry donations requested

To book a ticket online and guarantee your place click here:

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