Dorian the musical. Book by Linnie Reedman. Music & Lyrics by Joe Evans. Southwark Playhouse, the Large, 77 Newington Causeway, London until 10 August 2024.

3✩✩✩ Review: William Russell.

“Absolutely bonkers but a great gay night out.”

Oscar Wilde may well be turning in his grave at this glam rock version of his famous story about the beautiful but corrupt man with the portrait in his attic ageing and revealing his true self while he retains eternal youth, but it really doesn’t matter. It is, while chaotic at times, great fun, has a splendid sexy performance from Alfie Friedman as Dorian, the rock star up for anything , and he gets good support from the other five cast members especially George Renshaw as Harry Wotton, the promoter who makes him a star. Some of Evans’ songs are terrific, although one or two could be cut because it is a two and a half hour show with interval which just about outstays its welcome. We do, after all, know how it is going to end.The opening scene is particularly hard to fathom and a couple of times during the evening someone says, or words to that effect, that they have no idea what is going on – with which the audience audibly agreed. Friedman, lanky and lovely, can sing, as can Renshaw, always an asset in a musical, and set and costume designer Isabelle Von Braeckel has come up with some gorgeous glam rock gowns mixing up all sorts of periods which delight the eye. O Dorian, draped in pearls necklaces wearing a see through shirt is one, and both Renshaw and Leeroy Boone, as Baz. the photographer brought in to snap Dorian, who also paints that fatal portrait , addd to the eye candy . The women come off less well – Megan Hil as both Sybil Vane, an opera singer, and her younger sister, and Gabrielle Lewis-Dodson as Wotton’s wife do, however, warble well even if they are at times spare parts amid the spectacular Dorian lusting displayed by Wotton and Baz. The same can be said for Rhys Lambert who should have been more used than he is.

Away when press night was held I decided it was one to collect because the reviews had ranged from one to three stars. While stars look good on publicity, they really do not convey what is on offer and clearly people had come away with wildly differing verdicts. Why turned out to be clear, but in the end I ended up with the three star lot.Reedman might have speeded things up a little, and done some cutting but for most of the time she keeps it all moving briskly, the score is frequently spot on and a couple of the ballads for Dorian are lovely. Wilde might be less than delighted at what has been done to his story but he would surely recognise what proves to be a good night out. It a sense Dorian is a work in progress, but in the nature of things a second chance may be unlikely so the best thing is to go and enjoy it for what it is. A gloriously gay night out.

Cast

Alfie Friedman – Dorian.

George Renshaw - Harry Wotton.

Leeroy Boone – Baz Halward.

Megan Hill - Sybil Vane

Wooton’s wife – Gabriella Lewis-Dodson.

Various persons – Rhys Lambert and everyone else except Friedman.

Creatives

Director – Linnie Reedman.

Musical Director Aaron Clingham.

Lighting – Adam King & Tyler Firward.

Set and Costumes – Isabelle Von Braeckel.

Choreography – Karina Kokali.

Intimacy Director –Hanna Rose Goalstone.

Fight Director – Ronin Traynor.

Photo Credit – Danny Kaan.

Musical theatre – 17 July 2024.