Riveting Courtroom Drama at the Mendocino Theatre Company
Review by Bob Cohen
A surefire sign of a winning production is the positive audience energy at the Gala party after one of our Friday night openings. I’ve attended a whole lot of them in the last 31 years as actor, director or audience member so I fancy myself something of an expert on the subject. Last Friday night’s Gala after the Mendocino Theatre Company opener of Gross Indecency: The Three Trials of Oscar Wilde had that kind of vibrant energy.
A cast of nine men ranging in age from late teens to 60-something beautifully presented Moise Kaufman’s striking play. Dan Kozloff in the iconic role of Wilde is mesmerizing, a performance surely not to be missed. Ann Woodhead’s direction is exceptional.
As a literate example of entertaining theater Gross Indecency is a riveting courtroom drama complete with an underlying subtext that will keep you talking about the play afterwards. In fact, much of the unfortunate moralizing and religious hysteria that has done so much damage to our political system traces back to Wilde’s travails.
The Mendocino Theatre Company production of Moises Kaufman’s Gross Indecency: The Three Trials of Oscar Wilde plays Thursdays through Sundays through July 20. Thursday, June 19 is already sold-out. Reservations at 707-937-4477 or online at http://www.mendocinotheatre.org/. MTC’s Helen Schoeni Theater is located on the grounds of the Mendocino Art Center, 45200 Little Lake Street, Mendocino.
Please don’t miss this fine production.
