Walterdale revives Oscar Wilde

Perhaps the most trendsetting playwright of Victorian England, Oscar Wilde has gone out of fashion in the 21st century.

Wilde’s catalogue of comedic satires, loaded with razor-sharp wit and intelligent dialogue, is now primarily relegated to university programs and community theatre.

However, his delightful comedies poking a stick at high society are still quite relevant today, says Martin Stout, director of Lady Windermere’s Fan opening at Walterdale Theatre on Wednesday, Dec. 7.

First performed in 1892, Lady Windermere’s Fan satirizes society’s hypocritical moral double standards. It centres on Lord and Lady Windermere, a couple married two years with a six-month-old son.

Attractive, wealthy and intelligent, their social standing sets an upper crust tone. A conflict arises when the Duchess of Berwick, a renowned gossip, reveals to Lady Windermere the latest gossip surrounding her husband.

The word is that Lord Windermere is spending time and money on a scandal-ridden woman, Mrs. Erlynne. Lady Windermere confronts her husband. He denies the accusations, and to his wife’s surprise invites the scandalous Mrs. Erlynne to her upcoming birthday party.

“There were different standards of behaviour for men and women back then. But some things haven’t changed that much,” said Stout.

He’s right. One of the elements is a scandal that resurrects from the past. While the nature of contemporary scandals has changed from the past, the lasting harm done to reputations, both past and present, is the same.

“Wilde shows us the difference between our private face, what we release privately, and the public face, what we show to the rest of the world. It’s the difference between what we do and how we compose ourselves for the public.”

Stout’s main reason for mounting the production was the non-stop salvos of Wilde’s sparkling epigrams. One Internet website attributes 56 witticisms as oft-repeated quotes from the play – a number incurred by few playwrights.

With a large cast of 16, Lady Windermere’s Fan is not feasible to stage for budget-conscious theatres.

“But it’s an asset at Walterdale. I can fill all the roles without much problem. In this play there’s a range of parts from young to old.”

Stout cast St. Albert’s Edward Medeiros as Parker, the butler.

“I liked his voice. I liked his presence. I was thinking of an English butler. There has to be certain gravitas to the role and Ed has it.”

While some productions of Lady Windermere’s Fan are staged in later periods, Stout has opted to set the show in Wilde’s sphere.

“Once you move it from the milieu of Victorian England, the conventions break down and the plot breaks down. It works in character, but the plot unravels.”

To maintain an element of reality, vocal coach Marliss Weber tutored the cast on British accents.

“We’re creating a suspension of disbelief. As long as it doesn’t seem completely wrong, the audience will allow themselves to be convinced.”

In addition, the period costumes and a panelled set will help revive the ornate period.

“Lady Windermere’s Fan is going to be a joy to look at in terms of costumes and sets. Not only will it look and sound wonderful, but it will give you something to reflect on.”