The stage is minimalistic, but still has a dynamic presence, with vibrant colors shining down from spotlights onto the stygian set. The center of the stage is highlighted by an empty picture frame with various pieces of decor accentuating the idle scene. Excited theater-goers show their tickets and quietly shuffle through the auditorium to their seats.
The hushed whispers of the crowd die down as the main lights dim and the show begins. Faint glows illuminate the stage as characters join together in front of the audience for an ensemble monologue about the title character; Dorian Gray. The thoughtfully designed dialogue gives small glimpses into the psyche of each speaker and their relation to Gray, as well as immediately showing the drama’s atmosphere to the viewers and bringing them into its world.
“My expectations were to share a story in classic literature to give the audience something to think about, but also to challenge the actors,” said Director and Drama Club advisor Zachariah Timm.
After producing humorous musicals like “Legally Blonde” in previous years, Timm decided to try a more serious and trying piece.
“These students have been meeting every single day after school for two hours or more since December,” said Timm.
The fruits of their labor clearly paid off as after over two months of preparation and practice, the show was performed marvelously and went off without a hitch inside the Central Kitsap Performing Arts Center (CK PAC) this February 8, 2024. “The Picture of Dorian Gray” featured lead performances from Maison Petersen as Dorian Gray, Shayla Sutliff as Basil Hallward (Younger), and Zee Gemmer as Lord Henry Wotton (Younger).
Timm recalls first seeing “The Picture of Dorian Gray” in high school, and its impact stayed with him all the way to directing the play today.
“I remember being floored by a lot of the ideas of the concept of someone being immortal and not using that power to be good,” said Timm.
The serious and emotional views presented in the drama required deep technique and thoughtful acting from its performers.
“It’s a process of getting the actors to the point where they’re comfortable being that vulnerable on stage,” said Timm. “You have to get to a point where you’re openly weeping on stage and you can’t turn that on in a moment without a process.”
The acting process was extremely beneficial as the poignant performances distinctly amplified the quality of the production to the next level.
“I’m always astounded by our actors and the technicians,” Timm said. “We have such incredible talent.”
The immersive set and lighting combined with the captivating portrayal of Oscar Wilde’s characters help convey the overall meaning and moral of the story.
“The story is not about the dangers of being immoral,” Timm said. “I want to leave the audience with a sense of being open-minded and allowing people to experience sensations on earth that are good for them and don’t hurt other people.”
With the opening night in the rear view mirror, Timm hopes that more people will attend the show and see a new perspective through it as well as appreciate the hard work that went into the production.
“I just encourage everyone to come out and support CK Drama and also to recognize that we have a lot of really talented artists who put a lot of time and effort into this,” said Timm.
“The Picture of Dorian Gray” will be having two more shows this February on the 9th and 10th. Tickets are available on the CKSD Box Office Website.
