Sex, scandal, corruption, and laughter—Oscar Wilde's comedy "An Ideal Husband" has it all, and Masque and Gown plans on spicing it up this weekend with a modernized version of the 1895 play.
The play is directed by Sam Plattus '12, and includes a cast of nearly 20 actors and actresses.
"The play is supposed to be set in the 1890s when it was written, but we've set it in the 1920s," Plattus said. "It's a period of time that lends itself to that kind of comedy. I think, in a certain sense, the play is a kind of universal story in that at its core, it's about scandal and private lives leaking into public persona, and I don't think that has changed at all in the 110 years since the play was written."
At the heart of "An Ideal Husband" is Sir Rober Chiltern, played by Kevin Kowalko '12. An intriguing scandal mars his past, and he is forced to confront it amidst London high society.
"One of the main characters is a politician who is haunted by a scandal from his past. It raises the question of how much someone should be judged by their past, and how much someone's private life matters to their public image," Plattus said.
"The title of the play is meant to be ironic because the character that is supposed to be ideal turns out to be far from it. His wife has built him up to be the perfect man and she has to come to grips with the fact that while he is not as perfect as she expects him to be, and can't meet the standard that she holds him to, she still loves him and loves him despite all of his flaws," he added.
Despite the social issues the play raises, "An Ideal Husband" is ultimately a comedy. While the plot conveys the idea that hypocrisy is widespread and that few entirely good people exist, the dialogue between the characters makes the play amusing and fun to watch—a balance that Wilde strikes well, according to Plattus.
"He writes plays in general that are comedic without being trite, and that can be hard to find at times," he said. "It's a very rich language without being so dense that it's impossible to navigate—as an actor or for a director—so the language is attractive."
"The way Wilde wrote—it's a very specific vision of each of the plays he wrote, partly because he had a background as a novelist and partly because he was a little bit of a control freak," Plattus added.
Despite the specificity in Wilde's writing, Plattus says Masque and Gown's version of "An Ideal Husband" has a particularly Bowdoin flavor.
"It's a really fun show to do because there's so much room for playing with the script. There are some actors in this show with really great comedic instincts and it's been great just letting those instincts take them wherever they take them," he said. "It's really important from very early on to let the actors find their own voice in whatever character they are playing. And to a certain extent, for me to find my own idea for all of the different facets of the play."
The play is the only comedy being produced by either Masque and Gown or the Theater and Dance department this semester, according to Plattus. Leading roles are filled by Kowalko, Emily Doyle '09, Brenna Nicely '10, Francesca Perkins '10, and Houston Kraft '11.
"An Ideal Husband" will be performed today and Saturday at 8 p.m. in Pickard Theater. Admission is $1 for Bowdoin students, faculty, and staff, and $3 for community members. Tickets are available at the Smith Union info desk or at the door.