Leslie Clack gives an immense and mesmeric performance in his solo play. He recounts the critical events in the life of Oscar Wilde leading up to his death in Paris, forgotten by many and in poverty. He brings out the lightness and darkness in Wilde’s life and works. The lightness is revealed in Wilde’s wit as his fame and popularity increased in the early 1890’s. Wilde yearned for recognition and this he received with the success of his comedies. Leslie Clack successfully plays excerpts from several of the comedies including ‘The Importance of Being Earnest’. However, the real power of the play is the revelation of the darker side. The death scene excerpt from Wilde’s only novel ‘The Picture of Dorian Gray’ is totally convincing. In Wilde’s life, the passion he had for Lord Alfred ‘Bosie’ Douglas ultimately led to his downfall, public humiliation and imprisonment within months of his greatest success. The drama of the courtroom scene is brilliantly revealed when Wilde made one careless throwaway remark which completely undermined his defence. Wilde’s final years in prison and, on release, self imposed exile are treated with historical accuracy without wallowing in sentimentality. My advice is, see this play and witness live theatre at its very best. *****