(998)
Gross Indecency
Moises Kaufman
The Trials of Oscar Wilde
by John O'Connor, Merlin Holland
Highlights
120 mins 19th Century Reduced Casting (Doubling Possible) Interior Set Period Costumes
Synopsis
Thursday 14 February 1895 was the triumphant opening night of The Importance of Being Earnest and the zenith of Wilde’s career.
Less than 100 days later, he found himself a common prisoner sentenced to two years hard labour.
So what happened during the trials and what did Wilde say?
Was he persecuted or the author of his own downfall?
Using the actual words spoken in court, we can feel what it was like to be in the company of a flawed genius - as this less than ideal husband was suddenly reduced to a man of no importance.
Press Reviews
"A lofty and beguiling Wilde in a smart play that reveals the establishment at its worst"
— The Guardian
"For a century, what Wilde actually said at his trials was a mystery. But the recent discovery of shorthand notes changed that. Now his grandson Merlin Holland has turned them into a play. The result is as good as being in the gallery."
— The Independent
"Oscar Wilde is brought back to life in this new play about the writer’s downfall. John O’Connor and Merlin Holland (the grandson of Wilde) have adapted the transcripts into a fascinating play."
— Time Out Lonon
"There is a prurient fascination here in watching Wilde's shifting moral compass. Writers John O'Connor and Merlin Holland have ensured there is plenty of context - Wilde's barbed point about a brothel being close to the Houses of Parliament is well made. Without attempting to excuse Wilde, this portrays a man whose own arrogance helped precipitate a downfall that was engineered not for what he did, but what he stood for."
— The Stage
Characters
| Character |
|---|
| Policeman |
| Marquess Of Queensberry |
| Sidney Wright |
| Sir Edward Clarke |
| Qc Edward Carson |
| Qc Alfred Wood |
| William Allen |
| Arthur (Wilde’S Manservant) |
| American Reporter |
| Auctioneer |
| Charles Gill |
| Qc Charles Parker |
| Jane Cotter |
| Antonio Migge |
| Fred Atkins |
| Judge |
| Foreman Of The Jury |
| Oscar Wilde |
Publication
The Trials of Oscar Wilde is a play written by John O'Connor and published by Samuel French .
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Performance Rights
Available for Licensing
Amateur & Professional
Fee: Minimum Fee: $90 per performance$55 per short play individually
Restrictions: Major Markets Only (US) / Standard Restriction (UK)
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