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In Extremis
On the night of 24th March 1895, Mrs Robinson, a society palm-reader, agreed to see Oscar Wilde in her London flat. Wilde's lover, Lord Alfred Douglas, 'Bosie', was urging him to sue the Marquis of Queensberry (Bosie's father) for criminal libel. But Wilde's friends, wary of Queensberry's power, were warning him to leave town. In Extremis reveals the strange turmoil of that night, as a man at the height of his fame turns to a complete stranger for advice about a potentially life-changing decision.
In Extremis was first presented in November 2000 at the National Theatre alongside De Profundis to mark the centenary of Oscar Wilde's death.
In Extremis was first presented in November 2000 at the National Theatre alongside De Profundis to mark the centenary of Oscar Wilde's death.
52 pages, Paperback
First published September 1, 2001
34 people want to read
About the author
Neil Bartlett
72 books79 followersBorn in 1958, Neil Bartlett has spent twenty-five years at the cutting edge of British gay culture. His ground-breaking study of Oscar Wilde, Who Was That Man? paved the way for a queer re-imagining of history ; his first novel, Ready To Catch Him Should He Fall, was voted Capital Gay Book of The Year; his second, Mr Clive and Mr Page, was nominated for the Whitbread Prize. Both have since been translated into five European languages. Listing him as one of the country's fifty most significant gay cultural figures, the Independent said "Brilliant,beautiful, mischievous; few men can match Bartlett for the breadth of his exploration of gay sensibility".
He also works as a director, and in 2000 was awarded an OBE for services to the theatre. He founded his first theatre company in 1982 and is now an "independent theatre-maker and freelance director", continuing to write novels and work as an activist for gay rights.
Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name. See this thread for more information.
He also works as a director, and in 2000 was awarded an OBE for services to the theatre. He founded his first theatre company in 1982 and is now an "independent theatre-maker and freelance director", continuing to write novels and work as an activist for gay rights.
Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name. See this thread for more information.
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
November 21, 2011
In Extremis is subtitled "A Love Letter", which could be the subtitle of everything written about Oscar Wilde, ever. Is there anyone who doesn't fall in love with him a little more every time they read about him? So I imagine that goes double for anyone who tries to write about him.
According to a telegram Wilde sent a friend, he visited a palm reader shortly before his trial. Though his friends were urging him to flee for France, "Mrs. Robinson" told him that his trial would be a great triumph.
This dramatic imagining of Wilde's meeting with the palm reader was produced for the 100th anniversary of Wilde's death (in 2000), and directed by Trevor Nunn.
A large amount of the script is monologue --mostly Mrs. Robinson's. Wilde spends most of the play in a chair. While a director might choose to add more movement to Wilde in a live performance, he's chair-bound as written, which makes imagining Wilde like imagining a series of still photographs.
A great actor could possibly make this worth watching. On paper --as a pure read-- it's missing some spark.
According to a telegram Wilde sent a friend, he visited a palm reader shortly before his trial. Though his friends were urging him to flee for France, "Mrs. Robinson" told him that his trial would be a great triumph.
This dramatic imagining of Wilde's meeting with the palm reader was produced for the 100th anniversary of Wilde's death (in 2000), and directed by Trevor Nunn.
A large amount of the script is monologue --mostly Mrs. Robinson's. Wilde spends most of the play in a chair. While a director might choose to add more movement to Wilde in a live performance, he's chair-bound as written, which makes imagining Wilde like imagining a series of still photographs.
A great actor could possibly make this worth watching. On paper --as a pure read-- it's missing some spark.
February 29, 2024
“R: Yes of course. The Line of Fortune is - broken….
You are not happy.
W: I have never sought happiness. I have sought pleasure.
R: Have you found it?
W: Often. Mrs. Robinson. Far too often. Do go on.”
“Remember also that people reveal themselves precisely in their disguises. A married woman who has removed her wedding ring reveals her hopes for the future as clearly as a veiled celebrity her longings for anonymity.
He chose the cleverest disguise; ostentation.”
You are not happy.
W: I have never sought happiness. I have sought pleasure.
R: Have you found it?
W: Often. Mrs. Robinson. Far too often. Do go on.”
“Remember also that people reveal themselves precisely in their disguises. A married woman who has removed her wedding ring reveals her hopes for the future as clearly as a veiled celebrity her longings for anonymity.
He chose the cleverest disguise; ostentation.”
July 23, 2020
This has been hiding on my shelf for 17 years! I'm glad I finally read it. I first found Bartlett through his hilarious Hollywood adaptation of The Misanthrope (published in American Theatre magazine with production photos featuring Kim Catrall), and I've read a few of his translations and adaptations since. Several of his works explore Oscar Wilde, and this one is great! Bartlett uses an actual palm reading Wilde received shortly before his trial, and life, exploded in 1895 as the seed for a two-person play. What did the fortune teller say to Wilde? Did she lie? What did he want to hear, and what did he need to know? It's an odd length -- about 45 minutes -- but a great challenge for two actors.
April 22, 2019
I loved this play, it is a little short but very funny. Mrs Robinson is hilarious and snarky, the back and forth quips between her and Wilde had me laughing my arse off and the way they turn aside to give their opinions. It was very enjoyable.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews