A Chelsea Affair, a new entertainment based on the life of Oscar Wilde, ebut on the stage is a distinctly minor event. Gerry Gallivan's book is a very potted biography of Oscar Wilde, taking in the familiar highlights. It is a competent piece of stage carpentry, but lacks any new focus on the characters or sparkle in the often cliched dialogue. The tedious device of narration, mostly offered to the audience by a servant with little else to do, is occasionally used to move the story along.
The original concept and music is by Steve Gavin, and his numbers are inserted into the plot at appropriate moments. All I can recall of them, only minutes after leaving the theatre, is a mildly harmonious mixumgatherum with words that rarely conformed to my idea of song lyrics. One rather tuneful song, The Happy Prince, was written by Brian Merriman.
That brings me to the acting. Mr Merriman plays Oscar in a nicely mannered performance of considerable charm and poise. His mother, Lady Jane (Speranza) Wilde is interpreted by Adele King in the best portrayal of the evening, the only one which rises above preconceptions to form a truly credible character. Emer Hartnett as Constance Wilde is tuneful but subdued.
The multi-talented Mr Merriman is also the director, and structures his production cleanly enough.
Runs until July 22nd; to book phone 01-8729977
