Open Book Players to perform ‘Dorian Gray’ in Gardiner

GARDINER — The Open Book Players will perform “The Picture of Dorian Gray” at Johnson Hall Performing Arts Center 7:30 p.m. Saturday, March 30, and 2 p.m. Sunday, March 31, at 280 Water St.
Doors will open a half hour before the show.

Based on the novel by Oscar Wilde, Dorian Gray is the subject of a full-length portrait in oil by Basil Hallward, an artist who is impressed and infatuated by Dorian’s beauty; he believes Dorian’s beauty is responsible for the new mood in his art as a painter. Through Basil, Dorian meets Lord Henry Wotton, and he soon is enthralled by the aristocrat’s hedonistic world view: that beauty and sensual fulfillment are the only things worth pursuing in life.
Newly understanding his beauty will fade, Dorian expresses the desire to sell his soul, to ensure that the picture, rather than he, will age and fade. The wish is granted, and Dorian pursues a libertine life of varied and amoral experiences, while staying young and beautiful; all the while his portrait ages and records every sin.
Open Book Players performs literary works in the tradition of readers theater. Tickets are available at Johnson Hall’s box office Tuesday through Friday from noon to 3 p.m. or at 207-582-7144 or by visiting their website at

href=”http://www.johnsonhall.org”>www.johnsonhall.org.