His eyes pierced the skin. His words stung the ears. He stole the mind.
A master of prose, Oscar Wilde was wild both in thought and pretense. With ostentation and splendor, he gallantly strode into the court, unaware of the utter devastation the day held. The Studio Theatre’s production of “Gross Indecency: The Three Trials of Oscar Wilde” eloquently depicts Wilde and the consequences he endured because of his chosen lifestyle.
At the turn of the century, Wilde dazzled English audiences with his magnificently witty plays. A man of words, Wilde transcended all boundaries established within the societal realm, using the English language with incomparable dexterity.
A husband and a father of two boys, his avant garde lifestyle of promiscuity and alcoholism was denounced in English society. Wilde enjoyed the company of young men, especially the companionship of Lord Alfred Douglas. Wilde lost himself in this love affair. In his intense desire to justify his relationship with the young lord, Wilde was tried for “gross indecency.” Wilde’s excessive pride spurred his famous three trials in which English law and regulation were altered in perpetuity.
Directed by Studio Theatre veteran John Going, the piece uses factual documentation and historical artifacts to intensify the atmosphere of fervent courtroom in which the piece is set. The production brings to light the demise of one man and the turmoil that beset the homosexual community in England.
The brilliant ensemble is led by thespian Max Robinson, who gives a performance of spectacular caliber. With a long list of stage and television credits, Robinson demonstrates his talent, illuminating the stage with his depiction of Wilde.
Writer Mois?s Kaufman explores the clashing ideologies of the artist and the society in his work. This theme exists even today – the idea of the artist controlled by the societal reigns of censorship and suppression. In the end, the artist is forsaken, leaving a societal void.
In “Gross Indecency,” Wilde is depicted as a man yearning for acceptance in society, a society that did not include the word homosexual in its vocabulary, a society that did not accept the artist as an artist and a society that ultimately destroyed the life of a man simply because he was gay.
Wilde eloquently stated, “The real tragedies in life occur in such an inartistic manner.” In exploring his magnificent life and his equally magnificent collapse, “Gross Indecency” penetratingly captures the life of a man who died for the artist hidden in all men.
