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False alarms: Diagnosis @finborough

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Nobody likes Cassandra, and like the Trojan princess who was given the gift of being able to see the future but cursed so that nobody would believe her, the woman at the centre of this piece could see into the not-too-distant future. She can see that disaster is about to strike. But she’s dismissed as a vulnerable, crazy lady who maybe had a bit too much to drink. This is the premise of “Diagnosis,” currently playing at the Finborough Theatre , written and performed by Athena Stevens.  You enter the Finborough under surveillance. The camera is pointed at the audience, and it soon becomes clear that we are somewhere in the not-too-distant future in London. A city where surveillance already abounds so we can capture all sorts of crimes taking place (albeit not in ultra-high definition).  In the future, every police station will record interviews with an audience with “vulnerable persons” involved. This is to ensure no police misconduct occurs. A police officer (Ché Walker) is in...

Eternal guilt: Dorian The Musical @SWKplay


Dorian is a new musical that updates Oscar Wilde’s gothic novel from the uptight Victorian era to an undetermined period of gender fluidity and glam rock. On paper, musicalising the Picture of Dorian Gray to a period of glam rock, social media, and cheap shoes seems like a good idea. After all, Oscar Wilde’s gothic story is very adaptable. It has been the source of countless adaptations for the stage, television or movies. I was half expecting a trashy Dorian, similar to the early 1980s telemovie that shifted Dorian’s gender to a woman. This version falls into a so bad it’s good category with Anthony Perkins in a lead role, who as he ages under makeup starts to look like Andy Warhol. 


And while it’s great to see a new show, a strong cast can’t compensate for such an earnest production with underpowered songs. There’s no sense of fun, and some curious staging and costume choices  -mismatched dresses, crocodile boots and furry suits - serve as a distraction. It’s currently playing at the Southwark Playhouse (Borough). 

There are some subtle changes to the names and characters of the source material. Dorian (Alfie Friedman) is a broody, sullen man on the brink of musical fame. A photoshoot by Baz (Leeroy Boone) leads to a framed picture that becomes old while Dorian pursues a hedonistic lifestyle with his ambiguously straight friend Harry (George Renshaw). Death, drugs, and many pearl necklaces follow Dorian around.

But the songs don’t tend to move the drama forward and feel repetitive. If you sell your soul for eternal youth, there has to be some upside. Instead, we get introspection. We could have had a good time if there had been a nudge and a wink that everyone was in on the craziness. 

Directed by Linnie Reedman with a book by Linnie Reedman and music and lyrics by Joe Evans, Dorian is at the Southwark Playhouse until 10 August. 

⭐️⭐️⭐️

Photos by Danny Kaan


 

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