"The Picture of Dorian Gray" was recently performed at the Studio Theatre on Theatre Row on West 42nd Street. This one-man show was part of the 4th Annual United Solo Festival, which continues through November 24th.

This adaptation of Oscar Wilde's darkest novel by playwright/director Darya Gerasimenko was, certainly, a mammoth undertaking: there are multiple characters and locations in the novel, and paring it down to one actor and a single set for the stage must have been difficult.  Her use of lighting, music, and off-stage voices is effective: all keep the play moving.  The bare stage is decorated with black boxes, which, at various points in the play, act as a couch, a bed, and other objects. The main stage prop is the portrait itself, which through the use of modern computer technology can change from the young, handsome Dorian to the older, depraved person he becomes.

For those not familiar with the story, Wilde's novel takes place in Victorian London, where Dorian Gray (a youthful aristocrat) comes under the influence of Lord Henry, an upper-crust aristocrat who mentors Dorian in his evil ways. Dorian makes a wish to remain young, but the painting ages and shows his true character.

The actor playing all the parts was Michael Abourizk, who must be given an "E" for effort. With more maturity he'll be able to add more depth to the characters he played.  (He could have done more to emphasize the class differences between the characters, which, because he chose not to put on English accents, sometimes became muddled.)  Overall, though, this is a welll-made attempt at a difficult project.