Theater Reviews

Oct 7, 2006 - Bruka Theatre's "Gross Indecency" sans the wit and pathos of the notorious Oscar Wilde trials

By By Jack Neal

Moises Kaufman's "Gross Indecency: The Three Trials of Oscar Wilde" is based on the playwright's extensive research of the so-called trials of the 19th century.

Kaufman has been transfixed on the plight of gay people. "Gross Indecency" and "The Laramie Project" are outgrowths of his obsessions about moments in history, especially gay history, that have impacted Western culture and mores.

In selecting "Gross Indecency" as his contribution to the current season of Bruka Theatre, director Jim Bernardi must be given credit for bringing this touch of provocative theater to the Reno scene. The play opened Friday night (10/6/06) at Reno's Bruka Theatre. That it doesn't work in its present form, at least not as it should, is partly the fault of Kaufman's static script and Bernardi's attempts at making what is a purely courtroom drama into something more cinematic.

The production turns out to be not just drab looking, but drab feeling, with dollops of sleazy trollops thrown in (reminiscent of "Ze Cabaret Girls" from Bob Fosse's "Cabaret" only this time it's "Ze Cabaret boys") to spice up the action. It's an interesting attempt to enliven Kaufman's spasmodic writing (some of it's good, some of it's bad), that places the droll wit of Oscar Wilde in mostly the wrong places.

My heart goes out to good, dedicated, non-professional actors who put their talents on the line without out-of-town tryouts (or those horrid dry runs on Broadway at top prices before "opening" night). There were many problems with lines on opening night with these gallant players. Problems that threw the production's pacing off balance. Undoubtedly, those problems will correct themselves as the players become more comfortable.

Bill Ware (Oscar Wilde) could be impressive, and may be once his lines settle in. Andy Luna is impressive as Lord Alfred Douglas, the young man at the center of the Wilde controversy. Impressive, too, is Lewis Zaumeyer who plays Lord Alfred's enraged father, the Marquis of Queensbury, who presses charges in dogged pursuit of nurturing his own homophobia at the expense of his son's self image and reputation. Tom Connell (Sir Edward Clarke, Wilde's lawyer) brings an assured, solid presence to the stage.

The remainder of the cast give it their all, but are not well served either by script or production concept. "The Truth," Wilde wrote, "is rarely pure and never simple."

Kudos to director and crew for this valiant attempt to find truth in this difficult, flawed play. The attempt is pure, the results - far from simple - are mixed at best.

"Gross Indecency: The Three Trials of Oscar Wilde" can be seen at the Bruka Theatre, 99 North Virginia Street, Reno, Nevada, Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays at 8 p.m. October 6 through October 28, 2006. For information call 775-323-3221.