THE S. MARK TAPER FOUNDATION PRESENTS A NOISE WITHIN’S REPERTORY THEATRE SEASON STUDY GUIDE A PICTURE OF DORIAN GRAY Based on the novella by Oscar Wilde • Adapted & Directed by Michael Michetti SEPTEMBER 23–NOVEMBER 16, 2018 STUDY GUIDES FROM A NOISE WITHIN A rich resource for teachers of English, reading, arts, and drama education. Dear Reader, We’re delighted you’re interested in our study guides, designed to provide a full range of information on our plays to teachers of all grade levels. A Noise Within’s study guides include: • General information about the play (characters, synopsis, timeline, and more) • Playwright biography and literary analysis • Historical content of the play • Scholarly articles • Production information (costumes, lights, direction, etc.) • Suggested classroom activities • Related resources (videos, books, etc.) • Discussion themes • Background on verse and prose (for Shakespeare’s plays) Our study guides allow you to review and share information with students to enhance both lesson plans and pupils’ theatrical experience and appreciation. They are designed to let you extrapolate articles and other information that best align with your own curricula and pedagogic goals. More information? It would be our pleasure. We’re here to make your students’ learning experience as rewarding and memorable as it can be! All the best, Pictured: Donnla Hughes, Romeo and Juliet, 2016. PHOTO BY CRAIG SCHWARTZ. Alicia Green DIRECTOR OF EDUCATION TABLE OF CONTENTS Character Map ......................................4 Special thanks to our Dinner On Stage donors who kept the arts thriving this year by Synopsis ...........................................5 supporting our Student Matinees (SMATs): About the Author: Oscar Wilde .........................6 SMAT PERFORMANCE SPONSOR Timeline of Oscar Wilde’s Life ..........................7 ($5,000 AND ABOVE) Dr. Richard R. Green Alan M. & Oscar Wilde’s World: The Victorian Era ...................8 William & Sheila R. Lamson Priscilla Kennedy Richard & Sally Roberts Aestheticism ........................................9 Oscar Wilde and Aestheticism .........................10 SCHOOL SPONSOR ($2,500 AND ABOVE) Kathleen & Margaret H. Sedenquist Reception of The Picture of Dorian Gray .................11 James Drummy Rhodes & Liz Trussell Barbara Henderson Themes ...........................................12 The Picture of Dorian Gray CLASS SPONSOR ($1,000 AND ABOVE) Adaptations of ...............14 Peter & Molly Bachmann Keith Miller Notes from Michael Michetti About His Adaptation Bill & Claire Bogaard Terri Murray Ginny & John Cushman Ms. Diana Peterson More and A Noise Within’s Production .......................15 Armando Gonzalez & Rosemary S. Risley Pre-Show Preparation: Research .......................16 Brenda Berg Daniel Rothmuller Sandy Greenstein, Lyn Spector Pre-Show Preparation: Activities .......................17 in honor of Ann M. Steinmetz Albert Greenstein Lois Tandy Essay Questions ....................................18 Ryan & Denise Jay Vickie Taylor Additional Resources ................................19 Elyse Klein, in honor of Bill & Rebecca Woods Terri Murray WORKSHOP SPONSOR ($500 AND ABOVE) A NOISE WITHIN’S EDUCATION PROGRAMS MADE POSSIBLE IN PART BY: Ruth & Jim Dewar Rary Simmons Jack & Becky Doody Deborah Strang Ann Peppers Foundation The Jewish Community Diane Glatt & David Holtz Janice Ohta & Fred Weiss Foundation Jim Kelly Capital Group Companies Tom & Gloria Lang Michael J. Connell Foundation Kenneth T. and Eileen L. Norris Foundation BUS SPONSOR ($350 AND ABOVE) The Dick and Sally Roberts Judi Barhydt Joan C. Mills Coyote Foundation Ralph M. Parsons Foundation Loren & Alice Brodhead Barbara Goen Nemer Steinmetz Foundation Meg Huntington Cajero Pete & Catherine Palermo Edison International Robert & Joan Cathcart Richard & Sally Roberts The Green Foundation Dwight Stuart Youth Fund Coachman Moore & Jose Rubio Associates, Inc. Louise Mayeri Spillman, Julie & Brian Daniels in honor of Victoria Degtyareva & Jack Spillman Michael Bateman Mary I. Wilson Linda Dozier ADDITIONAL DONORS Elvio Angeloni Irene Lacher, in honor of Peter & Molly Bachmann Frances Lacher Janet Castro Jaye Scholl & Jason King Charlie Bohlen Elizabeth Kurila & Michael Mindlin, in honor of the Steinmetz Foundation 4 A NOISE WITHIN 2018/19 REPERTORY SEASON | Fall 2018 Study Guide A Picture of Dorian Gray CHARACTER MAP Dorian Gray A young, beautiful, and reckless heir to a sizeable fortune. Basil Hallward paints a portrait of him that begins to change to reflect the state of his morality. Lord Henry Basil Hallward Sibyl Vane Alan Campbell Wotton (Harry) A painter who has become An actress who falls in A scientist and former A philosopher who infatuated with Dorian Gray. love with Dorian Gray. friend of Dorian Gray. develops a close He paints a portrait of Dorian relationship with Dorian to memorialize Dorian’s through his friendship youth and beauty. He is with Basil Hallward. friends with Lord Henry. Lady Henry James Vane Mrs. Vane Lord Henry Wotton’s wife. Sibyl Vane’s protective An actress. The mother brother, a sailor. of Sibyl and James Vane. Lord George Fermor Lord Henry’s Uncle. Lady Narborough Lady Brandon Sir Geoffrey Clauston Gladys, Duchess of Lord Henry and A socialite who hosts Leads a hunting trip Monmouth Dorian’s acquaintance. the party where Basil with Dorian and Attends a hunting trip with first meets Dorian. Lord Henry. Dorian and Lord Henry. 5 A NOISE WITHIN 2018/19 REPERTORY SEASON | Fall 2018 Study Guide A Picture of Dorian Gray SYNOPSIS Basil Hallward has found a new source of artistic inspiration. curtain covering the painting, he notices that something He is just putting the finishing touches on the latest portrait has changed: the painting does not quite look the way of his new muse when Lord Henry Wotton (known as Harry) he remembered. When Dorian confronts Basil about the pays Basil a visit. The subject of the portrait is a young man painting, Basil reluctantly confesses his love for Dorian— named Dorian Gray. Basil admits to Harry that since he and rather than receiving this news empathetically, Dorian first met Dorian at a party, he has become infatuated with responds dismissively to Basil’s confession. and devoted to Dorian. Harry can see why—the image of Dorian takes the portrait, which is now beginning to age the young man in Basil’s painting is striking—he is young, and reflect the ugliness of his behavior, and hides it away in innocent and beautiful. Basil has not revealed his feelings to his attic. Dorian, and tells Harry that he can never show the portrait in fear that the world will see in it his affection for Dorian. Dorian begins to act recklessly and selfishly—he seduces lovers for pleasure only to quickly cast them aside, he uses Dorian arrives at Basil’s studio to model for the portrait, people for money, he destroys relationships—and all the and Harry understands Basil’s infatuation even more. while, he appears unaffected by his actions. Drugs have no While Dorian sits for the portrait, Harry tempts him with a effect on him, he shows no remorse for casting lovers aside, provocative theory about living life in hedonistic pursuit of and he shows no guilt for using others for money. In fact, as pleasure and sensations. Harry flatters Dorian by praising his eighteen years pass, he does not even appear to age. youth and beauty but warns him that they will not last, and encourages him to live his life fully before he loses them. One night, Basil stops by Dorian’s home to say goodbye before he heads to Paris to focus on a new painting. Basil Basil finishes the portrait and Harry and Dorian come to shares stories he has heard about Dorian’s depraved and admire it. However, Dorian begins to grow jealous of the unseemly behavior, and in response Dorian lures Basil to the figure in the painting—his portrait will forever exude his attic to show him the portrait—the image of Dorian now present youth while he, himself, is destined to grow old. old, gnarled and hideous by sin and vice. Basil is shocked by He desperately wishes that it could be the other way what he sees, but before he can leave, Dorian kills him, the around: that the painting could grow old and he could stay creator of the monstrous painting. young. For such an arrangement, Dorian says he would give everything, even his own soul. The thought of aging terrifies Dorian continues to act recklessly—looking for pleasure Dorian to such an extent that he resolves to kill himself anywhere he can. At a brothel one night, he is called “Prince as soon as his beauty has faded. Basil begs Dorian not to Charming.” James Vane, Sibyl Vane’s brother, happens to be say such things and says that he will put a varnish on the at the brothel and hears this. James has vowed to avenge portrait so that the painting will last forever, and that he will the death of his sister by killing the Prince Charming that soon deliver the painting to Dorian to keep. destroyed her eighteen years earlier. James threatens to kill Dorian, who reasons with James, arguing that the man Some time later at Dorian’s introduction to society, Harry responsible for Sibyl’s death would be a middle-aged man begins to ask around about Dorian’s past. He learns by now. James spares his life, acknowledging that the man that Dorian is heir to a large sum of money, and Harry’s who is responsible for his sister’s death would be much interest in the young man grows. Harry and Dorian become older than Dorian appears. quite close. One evening, Dorian invites Harry and Basil to accompany him to a theatrical production of Romeo Having avoided death at the hands of James Vane, Dorian is and Juliet at a small hole-in-the-wall theatre. Dorian had given a second chance at life. He has felt the weight of his stopped there before in an effort to quell a passion for actions, his hedonism, and his obsession with youth. He tells sensational pleasures.