Theatre
Oscar
St James Cavalier

While history has been prolific in its share of artists and writers whose sexuality was not heteronormative, the “love that dare not speak its name” was, as the quotation from Lord Alfred Douglas’ poem Two Loves, implies: a highly tenuous and delicate matter which society swept under the carpet.

Since it was considered sinful, abhorrent and “unnatural”, homosexuality was not only demonised but also illegal. Interestingly, its wider implications were, of course, that homosexual relationships denied the natural result of a heterosexual marriage – the engendering of progeny, which, in a highly stratified and classist society like the one in Victorian England, spelt trouble and confusion when it came to inheritance of wealth, property and titles.

Local writer Alfred Palma’s script Il-Ħajja Traġika u Xokkanti ta’ Oscar Wilde, is a good exponent of this situation, using the chequered lifestyle of one of Victorian literature’s most loved playwrights and poets, Oscar Wilde and his illicit relationship with the afore mentioned Lord Alfred Douglas.

Currently running at St James Cavalier, Talenti Theatre’s production takes a biographical, narrative stance to the unfolding of this scandal in literary history.

Director Mario Micallef chose a narrative style which has been tried and tested by Talenti in previous biographical plays, allowing this latest piece about Wilde to be presented in a semi-direct address to the audience by the four characters, as though they were being formally interviewed.

Michael Mangion, left, with Jean Pierre Cassar in Oscar.

This style was interspersed by short scenes which focused purely on the character development of the individuals involved.

Jean Pierre Cassar played Lord Alfred Douglas, ‘Bosie’ to his friends, the young, handsome nobleman who became Wilde’s lover, shocking London society and incurring his father’s wrath. Young Cassar gave an earnest interpretation as an intelligent but highly spoilt and flighty aristocrat whose breeding and attitude belied his sharp and rather mercenary attitude towards Wilde following the eruption of the scandal – never visiting him in prison and drifting apart after his release.

The piece is an interesting version of how events unfolded in one of the most scandalous episodes in Victorian literary history

Michael Mangion’s first foray into Maltese language theatre as the eponymous Wilde, was a good move, allowing him to explore the emotive conundrum behind the man and complimenting Lorianne D’Ugo’s very strong and likeable interpretation as his wife, Constance. D’Ugo gave her character the aura of respectability which an upper class Victorian woman would have had, but as the sodomy scandal surrounding her husband unfolded, following his attempt to have the Marquess of Queensbury tried for libel, she loses the naivety of a young innocent wife and emerges as an intelligent and strong character in her own right – giving depth to her relationship with Wilde.

Joe Pace as the Lord of Queensbury was suitably irate and violent in his anger towards his son and hatred of Wilde, portraying the villain of the piece clearly and consistently.

With a minimal set, the atmosphere was created by Vanessa Attard’s lighting and period costumes by May Vassallo, allowing for the audience to get their fill of the story, which regularly referenced some of Wilde’s more powerful works like the De Profundis and The Ballad of Reading Gaol.

What I found rather difficult to get my head around was that in spite of the strong visuals, the tone and diction of the characters appeared a tad too studied and crisp – almost as though the script was being interpreted for a radio play rather than a theatre performance. While this made for excellent comprehension, it added a sheen of formality which was almost overly Victorian.

However, the piece is an interesting version of how events unfolded in one of the most scandalous episodes in Victorian literary history, and certainly worth a night out.

• Oscar is being staged at St James Cavalier on Saturday and Sunday at 8pm. Tickets may be obtained online at www.kreattivita.org or by phone on 2122 3200.