Reviews

Gross Indecency: The Three Trials of Oscar Wilde by Moisés Kaufman

casspro's review

4.0

I like this project for Kaufman infinitely better than The Laramie Project (sorry fans). It's not overly done, it's straightforward, it's poignant and its beautifully written. I was a bit hesitant when it was described as Brechtian, but all the styles seem to fall away once you begin reading it. The characters become actors, the actors become people.

Also, it's really amusing to read it as if it's one big, long saga of a Law & Order: SVU episode. You can practically hear the "Dun dun" after the prologue.

marsm0th's review

funny informative fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

Simply a blast to read. Kaufman's adaption of the Wilde trials brings life to Wilde's timeline for those who were not there (obviously). The narrative is witty and fast paced at first, then spirals down to a deeper emotional understanding of the situation. Kaufman makes you experience Wilde's magnetic appeal in a way that's almost hypnotic just before stripping him down to his basics at the very end of his prime.

alyssabookrecs's review

4.0

At first I wasn’t sure about the concept of using Wilde’s old letters to help dramatize his trial, but this ended up being an intricate and fascinating look at one of the most important writers of all time.

rhiannon_ling_'s review

challenging reflective sad fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

desti_price's review

I’m feeling a lot of things.

ashkitty93's review

5.0

A fantastic look into the three trials of Oscar Wilde. I'm definitely picking up Wilde's nonfiction writings after this.

Book Jar D20 Challenge: A play
MSBBT 2022: Unloved and unwanted

sandsing7's review against another edition

challenging inspiring reflective fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

kimberly_levaco's review

emotional funny informative reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

Kaufman is truly one of the masters of verbatim theater, and in gross indecency he is able to blend the comedy of Wilde with the tragedy of his situation to create a vibrant work of theater

milesjmoran's review

emotional funny informative inspiring reflective sad fast-paced

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Homophobia and Police brutality

rupsybooksy's review

3.0

prob would give this 3.5 stars if possible. an interesting and quick read. i <3 oscar wilde and am very interested in his ideas about art, so I liked that. I wanted more of his interiority throughout, not just at the end of the play. I loved the part with the scholar of Wilde. overall a good read hahahaha