Wilde short stories reach the stage

”Style, Not Sincerity” is Hardcover Theater’s traveling Oscar Wilde show, where laughter is always the best medicine. The show makes its way to Pepin County’s Widespot Performing Arts Center Saturday Feb. 23.

The projection is taken from three Wilde short stories: “Lord Arthur Savile’s Crime,” a comic tale of murder; “The Devoted Friend,” a tongue-in-cheek fairy tale; and “The Canterville Ghost.”

The Irish-born Wilde has been regarded as one of the greatest playwrights of the Victorian era, writing and producing nine plays.

In this one-hour jazzed-up show, four performers play multiple roles and utter dozens of Wilde's witticisms. The material was adapted and directed by Steve Schroer, and features Philip D. Henry, Christine Johnson, Dawn Krosnowski and Steve Schroer.

Hardcover Theater creates shows based on literature. Troupe members specialize in working with texts that have never before been adapted for the theater. Stories are told very fast. A typical Hardcover show has the narrative momentum of a bullet train, promoters said.

Actors don’t pretend the audience isn’t there. They talk to the audience; use movement and gesture to help the audience imagine things; sometimes they even run out into the audience.

If you go…

What: Hardcover Theater

When: 7 p.m.

Where: Widespot Performing Arts and Community Center, second story of N2030 Spring St., Stockholm

Cost: $12, free for ages 12 and under

More info: 715-307-8941 or www.widespotperformingarts.org

Tags: arts and entertainment, lifestyle, arts, entertainment, wisconsin