BWW Reviews: Oscar Wilde, Three Trials, and The Bartell

Moisés Kaufman is not a household name- a playwright, teacher, and creator of a new wave of theatre perhaps, but unknown to the majority of audiences. This journalist is particularly fond of the work of Mr. Kaufman and has difficulty finding performances of his masterpieces.

Why?

Moisés Kaufman crafts works of theatre that few have the courage or talent to take on. Actors switching characters off and on throughout the production is a feat of Kaufman's teaching entitled Tectonic Theatre. It is an art in itself and many directors do not want to take the time to tackle his works.

Steven Noll of the Madison Theatre Guild (a resident company of the Bartell Theatre) was not, however, taken aback by the challenge. Noll took on Kaufman's arguably most intricate play and brought back to life "a beautiful personality". Gross Indecency: The Three Trials of Oscar Wilde opened this past Friday in the black box space of Bartell Theatre, a perfect arena for an intimate evening with one of the greatest literary minds of all time.

Though tasked with the undertaking of such a detailed show, Noll did not have to carry all of the weight on his shoulders. The man chosen to bring Wilde back to life, Dennis Yadon, had to embody the very essence of the late playwright. Donning a wig, gorgeous Victorian garments (royal purple of course), and a demeanor fit for a dramatic persona, Yadon performed the role with more dignity and grace than anyone could have asked for. Yadon's gift for existing in the moment is one that many actors spend their lives striving for, but few achieve. Even though he did not have to switch characters as his co-stars had to do, Yadon had to be a man who audiences were already familiar with and arrived with an image in mind for - what occurred on Friday was not impersonation, it was a clear devotion to the love and beauty that existed in the form of Oscar Wilde.

MTG's cast of men had to step up to do justice to Kaufman's work as well as Wilde's legacy. One weak link in a show such as Gross Indecency can ruin the production. This cast is a chain that cannot be broken, each man working in perfect synchronization with one another, a feat that Noll and his cast should be infinitely proud to proclaim.

Though audiences know what to expect from Wilde's characterization, quite a few surprises are in store for those who venture to see the show. A spunky Calvin Bruce appears stoic as the gavel wielding judge, though his stony exterior falls away to reveal his humorous side. Francisco Torres, who plays a remarkable Kaufman during the show, has perfected the art of narrating clearly while embracing his talents for giving each character a unique voice and physicality.

For a show that is difficult in nature based on the way it is written, it becomes doubly demanding when actors need to utilize unfamiliar accents. One actor in particular excelled at the challenge when he, oddly enough, had the most difficult one to master. Jason Compton's Scottish tone was charming, spot on, and never pulled audiences out of the realm of disbelief. When paired with his quips, Compton proved to be a respectably believable lawyer.

Gross Indecency is full of quips, historical quotation, and heart wrenching dialogue. What occurs between costume designer Raven Albrecht and Yadon during the course of the show, however, is really what hits home. Wilde is slowly stripped of his Victorian attire. His velvet cape, his vest, what separates him from the others - it all is taken away from him. He is forcefully normalized in an indecent but artistically incredible fashion. The true indecency is watching Victorian society destroy Wilde bit by bit although Noll approaches the concept with the fondest respect.

Many audiences will not have the pleasure of seeing a play of Kaufman's produced, it simply isn't done. Gross Indecency holds a beauty that few scripts possess because fiction cannot hold the same depth as the true suffering of man. Kaufman's play creates a literal manifestation of one of Wilde's most quoted lines "the truth is rarely pure and never simple" as a tribute to one of the world's most read playwrights. And MTG's production of said play, to put it simply, is enchanting, heart breaking, and explores the innermost soul of a man taken too soon from this world.