New York City
Randy Rollison directs Gross Indecency: The Three Trials of Oscar Wilde by Moises Kaufman. The play is an intimate look at the trial of the century that destroyed the most celebrated playwright of his time, Oscar Wilde. Within three short months, Wilde went from being lauded as the toast of the town, with two smash hits — The Importance of Being Earnest and An Ideal Husband — playing to packed houses, to complete humiliation and utter scorn. The ever-burning issues of sexuality, censorship, and the role of the artist are exposed amid a cast of characters ranging from Queen Victoria to George Bernard Shaw. Using various texts, including transcripts from the trial, newspaper accounts, personal letters, and biographies, Kaufman has created a gripping courtroom drama, full of Wilde’s trademark wordplay and witticism.