In my study, we will chat about my adoration of Lily Langtry, among others, and my eventual marriage to Constance - all sprinkled with wit! We will share the delightfully absurd Lord Goring and his manservant Phipps and revel in the macabre story of Picture of Dorian Gray. The outrageous Lady Bracknell is our highlight. My life is incomplete without considering my calamitous 2 years in Reading gaol, saved by hilarious chats between Wilde and his Irish warder, Tom Martin. Noel Coward is planning to chat to you about his thoroughly eventful and comical journey out to us in Cape Town.

We create the illusion of asking my audience to join me in my study and share my life. I play some 7 different characters in the show, including the iconic Lady Bracknell.

I so enjoy the sharp and witty insights that Wilde gives into the, at times, hilariously idiotic snobbery of the English upper classes of his time.

As well as the humor, there is also the sadness associated with his later decline and imprisonment. Noel Coward gives us a delightful encore.

Comments from members of previous audiences:

"I have twice had the privilege of enjoying Peter Gilchrist's Oscar Wilde presentation which he does with such empathy for both the humour and the poignancy of his writings and plays." - Peter Steyn, (Ornithologist)

"A wonderful, creative show. Like a breath of fresh air at Kelvin." - Robert Permual (Kelvin Grove Club)

"A sensitive, gentle chronicle of Oscar Wilde's private life. Peter is mesmerizing in demanding, complex roles." - Samantha Gray (Film Director)

"A fantastic night. I have spoken to several members since the evening and they have all commented on a wonderful performance and want us to hold more evenings like it!" - Tarryn White (Functions Manager at Erinvale Golf Club)

Audience Responses

Had potential but didn't quite get there for me. Didn't feel actor was on top of his material - quite a few mistakes with the words. And the Noel Coward piece didn't work. By then he had lost some of the audience anyway and felt like an add-on to make up some time. Shame really because he looked the part and with some trimming and correctness it could work say as part of a mixed evening of individual performances maybe.

for a great part of the performance the artist just read from letters or from a set of papers... not the most dramatic show. I was expecting more. The Noel Encore part was completely random and wouldn't have taken place if it were not for a person placed in the audience.

The representation of Noel Coward was deeply disappointing - a non-event! No flappers, no Charleston (dance if you are too young to know), no parties (as in Elsa Maxwell, who gave world-famous parties in Paris and London for him). His overly supine Oscar would have been much the same but was saved by a good reading of Dorian Gray (Grey?) and a passable rendition of the now rather clichéd Lady Bracknell's lines. Both characters portrayed were utterly un-flamboyant, so very different from the image I had of both. Gilchrist reads and enunciates well, a boon.

Really enjoyed show great acting

Really enjoyed show great acting