Matthew Bourne's Dorian Gray

Matthew Bourne's "Dorian Gray" is a contemporary dance adaptation of Oscar Wilde's novel, The Picture of Dorian Gray, by choreographer Matthew Bourne. The show made its debut in August 2008 at the Edinburgh International Festival and transferred to Sadler's Wells Theatre in London in September 2008. [cite news | author=Tony Grew | title=Bourne to debut Dorian Gray in Edinburgh | url=http://www.pinknews.co.uk/news/articles/2005-7296.html | date= 2008-04-03 | work=Pink News | accessdate=2008-09-23] The music was composed by Terry Davies for a rock quintet directed from the keyboard. The set and costumes were designed by Lez Brotherston. [cite news | author=Lynne Walker | title=The really Wilde show: Matthew Bourne takes on Dorian Gray | url=http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/theatre/features/the-really-wilde-show-matthew-bourne-takes-on-dorian-gray-874664.html | date= 2008-07-23 | work=The Independent | accessdate=2008-09-23]

Modern setting

Various changes are made to the story, which Bourne sets in the modern fashion industry. In this setting, Dorian Gray is a poster boy for a perfume promotion rather than the wealthy socialite of the original text.cite news | author=Debra Craine | title=Matthew Bourne reworks Dorian Gray with looks to kill | date= 2008-06-26 | url=http://entertainment.timesonline.co.uk/tol/arts_and_entertainment/specials/edinburgh/article4383964.ece | work=The Times| accessdate=2008-09-23] A billboard poster for the advertising campaign takes the place of the epymonious portrait, whilst Gray's mentor Lord Henry is replaced by the alluring Lady Henrietta. [cite news | author=Judith Mackrell | title=Because Wilde's worth it | date= 2008-06-12 | url=http://www.guardian.co.uk/stage/2008/jun/12/dance.culture | work=The Guardian | accessdate=2008-09-23] A male ballet dancer replaces Sybil, the actress who catches Dorian's eye in Wilde's novel. In an interview with the Sunday Times, Bourne explained the relevance of the subject matter to a 21st century audience: "The obsession with youth and wanting to look young has never been a bigger issue. And I’m interested in what happens to people when the camera is turned on them. People you wouldn’t look at suddenly become fascinating." [cite news | author=David Jays | title=Matthew Bourne on Dorian Gray | date= 2008-04-06 | url=http://entertainment.timesonline.co.uk/tol/arts_and_entertainment/stage/dance/article3676091.ece | work=The Sunday Times| accessdate=2008-09-23]

Critical reception

Dorian Gray's run at the Edinburgh International Festival sold over 11,000 tickets, making it the biggest selling dance event in the festival's history. [cite news | author=Phil Miller | title=Bourne's Dorian Gray breaks Festival record | date= 2008-08-22 | url= http://www.theherald.co.uk/edinfest/moreinternationalfestival/display.var.2431821.0.Bournes_Dorian_Gray_breaks_Festival_record.php | work=The Herald | accessdate=2008-09-23] Reviewers have generally praised the imaginative choreography, costume changes and staging, whilst criticising the score for being dull and repetitive. [cite web | author=Mary Robb | title=Matthew Bourne's Dorian Gray | date= 2008-08-30 | url= http://www.musicalcriticism.com/concerts/eif-dorian-0808.shtml | work=MusicalCriticism.com | accessdate=2008-09-23] [cite web | author=Sanjoy Roy | title=Edinburgh festival: Dorian Gray | date= 2008-08-25 | url= http://www.guardian.co.uk/culture/2008/aug/25/edinburghfestival.festivals | work=The Guardian | accessdate=2008-09-23]

References

ee also

*Adaptations of "The Picture of Dorian Gray"
*Other works by Matthew Bourne