The House Theatre of Chicago presents DORIAN.
This is 2/3 of a review. The House has produced its current production in promenade. There are limited seats available at the base of the thrust-style stage. The rest of the audience stands, leans and moves throughout the show. The ambitious idea lends itself to a nightclub venue. That’s both good and bad. The good part is it recreates “the scene” vibe of Dorian’s social life. The bad parts are the same as in any nightclub. There are too many people competing for a space on the dance floor. The tall obtuse ones are rewarded with their cock block moves. The others helplessly gawk from the sidelines. I was among the height-challenged wallflowers. I missed about a 1/3 of the show.
What I did see was a marveling spectacle. Adapter, director and choreographer Tommy Rapley modernizes Oscar Wilde’s “The Picture of Dorian Gray.” Rapley and Ben Lobpries co-wrote DORIAN, a story about a hot model turned club kid. As Dorian plummets into the superficial world of booze, sex and drugs, his hardcore lifestyle doesn’t taint his good looks. He is ageless. His portrait isn’t as fortunate. The picture reflects his progressive debauchery.
Rapley’s choreography is provocative. The brawny Cole Simon (Dorian) and slight Patrick Andrews (Basil) smolder as a dance pair. Their physicality captivates as they intertwine in the air, on the floor, over the bar. It is steamy erotica. Kelley Abell (Sybil) also brings the heat in an alluring striptease. As the chorus removes her clothes, they paint her in blacklight fluorescents. At the end, she is poignantly tied with barbed wire ribbons. In another scene showcasing Rapley’s innovation, the buttoned-ed up Alex Weisman (Alan) parties his inhibitions off. During the dance sequence, Weisman whirlwinds from sober to ecstasy to passed out.
Rapley uses movement throughout the space as fluid storytelling. That’s the wrinkle. Whenever the action comes off the disco-like platform and down to the main floor, the visibility is obstructed. There is a witty dinner scene that I watched like NPR. I heard it and had to visualize it in my head. As soon as the table was set, a circle of 4-people deep surrounded it. I listened to the hilarious Manny Buckley (Harry) lead the snarky banter.
The House’s downstairs neighbors, The Hypocrites, have successfully produced many promenade shows. Their success is built on a much more linear space and the brevity of their pieces. The House space is too boxy to host a promenade. And two hours is to long to stand and shuffle watching dance. Rapley’s DORIAN would be better viewed in seats and in the round. This cast is sublime and I wished I had seen more of them.
Running Time: Two hours includes an intermission
At Chopin Theatre, 1543 W. Division
Based on Oscar Wilde’s book “The Picture of Dorian Gray”
Adapted by Ben Lobpries and Tommy Rapley
Directed and choreographed by Tommy Rapley
Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays at 8pm
Sundays at 7pm
Thru May 18th
Buy Tickets at www.thehousetheatre.com
**Intended for Mature Audiences
Production photo by Michael Brosilow