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A picture without words: Polish theatre reframes Dorian Gray through dance
A play without words, but with a whole lot of emotion. Polish choreographer Piotr Jeznach is reinterpreting Oscar Wilde’s classic ‘The Picture of Dorian Gray’ as primarily a dance performance and it makes you want more.
Oscar Wilde’s gothic horror novel “The Picture of Dorian Gray” tackles an extremely topical subject – the pursuit of youth, beauty and pleasure.
This is why choreographer Piotr Jeznach decided, unusually, to make his interpretation of the literary classic as a form where the only expression is movement.
“Here there are no words. Here the spectator sits down, we turn off the light and everyone can perceive it in their own way. We can’t tell the spectator what to feel,” says Jeznach. “I think that is what is beautiful about dance. Such a bit of understatement, leaving the spectator’s thoughts for him or her[self].”
When presenting the show at a press preview, the cast of performers seemed very in tune with each other and spoke enthusiastically about their experience putting the work on stage.
“These are individuals who are very well known in the dance world. Their work is huge, both in dance schools and commercially. They have also created their performances and settings for concerts, even in national stadiums,” explains Jeznach. “I know these people and… I know what they have in their souls, I know what movement they represent, what personality they have. And that’s how the people for these solo roles were chosen.”
Casting for the roles of the group dancers, on the other hand, required more time. The selection process began in February last year.
More than 200 people applied, from which only three men and one woman were chosen.
The principle role of Dorian Gray is played by Szymon Pacholec, who became a cast member after winning an episodes of the popular television show ‘You can dance. Just Dance’.
Pacholec freely admits that creating the role of Dorian has been his biggest challenge on stage so far.
“I had to forget some of my habits. In everyday life I tend to be cordial and kind and helpful, and here I had to undergo a metamorphosis and just be selfish,” says Pacholec. “I’ll be honest and say that I had emotions and moments when I thought I was just going to cry on stage myself, because… I don’t want to give [it] away, but there are parts that were hard to play because of the sympathy I have for people and the fact that I really respect and like them, and Dorian is just selfish.”
The dancers have only been rehearsing together since January, but they are full of praise about the atmosphere of teamwork and cooperation created by the choreographer, Piotr Jeznach.
“He is very good such a mentor – emotionally and movement-wise. He trusted us a lot. In terms of movement, he also gave us… I call it myself, as I teach, as I create choreography, I give you a template,” explains Pacholec. “Make some plastic change with it under you, create. If it’s wrong, it doesn’t suit me, I’ll lead differently, I’ll show you that way. But he also gave us room to explore these emotions, so that we could, like when playing the Sims, choose our own emotions.”
‘The Portrait of Dorian Grey‘ can be seen at Teatr Roma in Warsaw.
