Dorian: The Musical is a modern queer reimagining of the classic Oscar Wilde novel, The Picture Of Dorian Gray, and is currently running at Southwark Playhouse until 10 August.
The musical presents a glam-rock adaptation of the Gothic story with the lead role of Dorian, played by Alfie Friedman. Alfie’s role credits include The Undeclared War on Channel 4 and at Peacock; The Witches of Eastwick at Sondheim Theatre; Legacy at Menier Chocolate Factory; Laughing Boy at Jermyn Street Theatre and Theatre Royal Bath and he is widely recognised as a rising talent to watch out for. QX asked Alfie about the musical and what we can expect. He also told us about the other exciting projects he’s working on.
You have many talents as an actor, writer, composer, lyricist and singer. Which of those do you bring to Dorian: The Musical?
In this version of the story, Dorian is a young man trying to find himself through his music; and when playing any character, it’s an actors unofficial job to be the opposite of a liar – totally honest and open. With this being said, growing up surrounded by what I believe to be some of the Earth’s greatest music has really led to me finding my own truth and sense of self through myths and hymns, whether it be my performing or my writing. That compunction to communicate, and emotional honesty, are things that not only connect me to the character but allow HIM to hold my hand through the process. I think I have a big heart, so my goal is to give a piece of that back to this Dorian who doesn’t think he has one.
The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde, a tale of youth, beauty, sensuality, and immortality in the Victorian era, is reimagined in Dorian: The Musical. How does the production update these timeless themes for the 21st Century?
It’s sort of Victorian, sort of not… It’s also sort of modern, but still sort of not… It’s in its own weird reality where time as a construct doesn’t affect us as the actors or the things we say too much. And I think that’s where the uniqueness of this bizarre but faithful adaptation come into play; all our characters go through transformations, but fundamentally we are who we are throughout the whole show. It’s about a group of desperate people who are equally desperate for love, and they’ll be and do anything over however many years to get it. There are phones, yes, and there are references to social media, yes – but we’re also still rocking a gothic, Victoriana aesthetic. Like I said, it’s bizarre, but love itself is definitely a lot more so.
This is specifically a rock musical. Tell us something about the music we can expect and its influences.
Even more specifically, I’d say it’s a play with songs; it functions as a musical, but the way we’re approaching it is somewhere between Chekhov and Brechtian in style – elaborate descriptions and bold physical choices to establish characters, in what is otherwise a quite grounded story. The songs sometimes tell the story and, at other points, come in to mark thoughts and emotional beats for the characters. As for the musical influence, there’s a plethora to pick from… The Doors, Rolling Stones, a bit of Pink Floyd as well… But make no mistake, it’s not extreme to the point where it’s not accessible. There’s a lot of lovely, classic MT ballads for theatre fans to enjoy.
Which song is the showstopper?
If you’re looking for a tender but powerful moment that completely catches you off guard, “Out Of The Blue,” sung beautifully by our brilliant Megan Hill (they/them). If you’re looking for lyrical madness that makes you wince and shake your head, “What Will Become Of Me Now…” But if you’re waiting for a proper belter that should only be sung once a day, “Song For A Dead Girl” is up there.
What other exciting projects are you working on?
In the acting world, I’m not allowed to say, but what I CAN say is that I’ll be heading into those projects immediately after Dorian. As for my own writing, we’re moving full steam ahead on workshopping “Cosmonauts,” a musical I’ve created and written the music and lyrics for. It’s all about a young man called Cosmo who goes on a one-man crusade to stop his mother from marrying someone new… It’s obviously deeper than that, but I don’t want to spoil too much just yet. John Haslam will be joining me to do the arrangements and orchestrations, and Matt Ryan is currently directing and helping to shape the thing.
I’ve also written and storyboarded a five-season sci-fi/fantasy show, which I won’t name just yet, but after a few years of ironing out the kinks, it’s finally getting movement. It deals with time, home and family, and whilst it’s an emotional, character-driven story in terms of pacing and world-building (think Breaking Bad meets Guardians of the Galaxy), it’s also a massive homage to the brilliant space operas and comic books that brought me and my household so many magnificent memories growing up… I’m incredibly excited to reveal more in the coming months.
Dorian: The Musical runs to 10 August 2024, at Southwark Playhouse Borough, 77-85 Newington Causeway, London SE1 6BD, United Kingdom.
