Live Performance Review - Oscar
Images courtesy of the Australian Ballet.
Attending the world premiere of the daring new ballet Oscar, choreographed by the Tony Award-winning Christopher Wheeldon, is an experience that lingers long after the last curtain has fallen. This full-length ballet captures the essence of Oscar Wilde’s complex world with a composition of grandeur, elegance, and emotional depth.
From the moment the curtain rose, the audience was immersed in a visually breathtaking spectacle. Jean-Marc Puissant’s dynamic sets created a lavish backdrop that enhanced every scene, perfectly complementing Joby Talbot’s score that vibrates with a pulse that draws one deep into Wilde’s narrative. The orchestra played with immense synergy, augmenting the dancers' movements and elevating the emotional stakes throughout the performance.
The choreography around these themes was nothing short of mesmerising. One of the standout moments featured a breathtaking dance between Oscar (Jarryd Madden) and Robbie (Jett Ramsay), performed with a captivating fluidity replete with youthful love and longing. The scene is further enriched by the presence of Constance (Mia Heathcote), who brought a poignant contrast to the boys' joy and beaming glow. Their interlocking movements resonate oh-so, illustrating the connections and barriers inherent in love—be it romantic or platonic.
A particularly fascinating aspect of Oscar is how it intertwined the themes of The Picture of Dorian Gray with Wilde’s own narrative. The ballet didn’t just present Dorian’s story as a separate entity; rather, it weaved it seamlessly into Oscar’s life. Through vivid choreography, we see Dorian’s obsession with beauty and youth contrasted against Wilde’s own struggles with societal expectations. The haunting moments where Dorian interacted with his portrait became symbolic not only of vanity, but also of the sacrifices made for the sake of art and authenticity.
Similarly, the story of the nightingale serves as a poignant counterpoint to the ballet’s exploration of love. In The Nightingale and the Rose, the nightingale sacrifices herself in the name of love, a theme mirrored in Wilde’s own life. This motif resonates throughout the performance, reminding us of the lengths one will go to for true love. The choreography around these themes beautifully illustrated the fragile balance between beauty and sacrifice, joy and sorrow, desire and despair.
As the ballet reached its conclusion, the emotional weight of the story crescendoed, becoming even more palpable. Oscar lying on the bed, surrounded by memories and dreams, was a powerful image that left a lasting impression. It perfectly captured the triumphs and tragedies of his life, reflecting the ravelled dance between love, art, and the personal demons that haunted both Wilde and his characters.
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Oscar is currently showing in Sydney, and will be live-streamed online from November 19th to December 3rd. For more info, click here.