W. Scott McLucas Studio Theatre
World Premiere
by: Thomas Kilroy
directed by: Jack Going
February 2 – March 6, 2011
Set in 1944 in the middle of the Second World War, Lord Alfred Douglas, Oscar Wilde’s beloved Bosie, overcome with memories of the notorious love affair which rocked the world struggles to examine the mysteries of his own identity.
Forever linked to Wilde… the scandal… the violent trials which led to Wilde’s imprisonment… the guilt… and the subsequent half century he lived after the death of Wilde whilst alone in Paris in 1900, Bosie searches for the very personal meaning of a life forever the subject of endless conjecture.
As his wife, Olive, lies dying upstairs, Lord Douglas displays unexpected depths of feelings, as he copes with his marriage, his memories of Oscar, and the tragic fate of his only son.
“No aspect of the previous performances Des Keogh has given at The Irish Repertory Theatre could have suggested the depth and precision of the extraordinary work he delivers as Lord Alfred Bruce Douglas in Thomas Kilroy’s play, ‘My Scandalous Life.’ KILROY’S BOSIE, AS RENDERED RELENTLESSLY AND UNFORGIVINGLY, BY THE BRILLIAN DES KEOGH IS ONE OF THE FINEST, STRONGEST, MOST DISCIPLINED PERFORMANCES EVER SEEN ON EITHER OF THE IRISH REP’S TWO STAGES.” – Irish Echo
Critics Choice! “IN THE ASSURED HANDS OF ACTOR DES KEOGH, THIS IS A PORTRAIT THAT OSCAR ENTHUSIASTS WILL RELISH. Keogh, under John Going’s meticulous direction, delivers this compilation of contradictions with easy conviction. TOIBIN’S EILEEN IS LIKE A FORCE OF NATURE, A STRONG WIND BLOWING THROUGH THE ACCRETION OF LIES, THE DUST OF YESTERDAY.” – Backstage
“HERE’S A GEM OF A PLAY AS ENTERTAINING AS IT IS INSIGHTFUL, AS HILIARIOUS AS IT IS HEART-BREAKING, AND ALL SO SKILLFULLY PERFORMED BY TWO OF IRELAND’S MOST MASTERFUL ACTORS. Des Keogh brings us a timeless Lord Alfred Douglas with jaw-dropping skill and precision, whilst Fiana Toibin’s rollecking Irish Maid delivers a punch right to the gut of the stage.” – Irish Examiner
“WELL-KNOWN IRISH ACTOR DES KEOGH DELIVERS A PROBING INTERPRETATION OF LORD ALFRED QUESTIONING HIS SELF-WORTH AND GIVING VOICE TO HIS SUSPICIONS, HATREDS AND PERSONAL ANGUISH. .” – CurtainUp
“Des Keogh (Lord Douglas) seems patrician to his very bones. ELEGANT SPEECH AND GRACEFUL, RESTRAINED PHYSICALITY (look at the way he lowers himself into a chair or sips his port) ADD RICHNESS TO WRITTEN ATTITUDE. The portrait is effectively brittle and defensive. Quick dismissive gestures as Douglas rids himself of unwanted trains of thought are telling. FIANA TOIBIN (Eileen) IS COMPLETELY NATURAL. JOHN GOING (Director) HAS MANAGED VARIETY IN AN EXTREMELY INTIMATE SPACE. CHARLIE CORCORAN (Set Design) HAS DONE A LOT WITH A LITTLE (SPACE). The room is period appropriate, class stiff, and properly neat. Double doors work nicely. ” – WomanAroundTown
“AN ELOQUENT, MASTERFUL PERFORMANCE FROM VETERAN ACTOR DES KEOGH.” – BlogCritics.org