Krista Scott brings her solo show, Wilde Women, to Edinburgh Fringe this year.
“Lillie Langtry, celebrated British actress and consort to Edward, Prince of Wales, anxiously awaits a telegram in her backstage dressing room from her dear friend, Oscar, recently released from incarceration for ‘gross indecencies’.
With the help of her backstage visitors, she begins to assemble the material for their grand stage comeback, Wilde Women, featuring all the iconic playwright’s illustrious ladies, from Cecily to Salome, who set the stage for the era of the strong female protagonist.
Which will be the centerpiece of their creation? Mrs. Cheverly? Lady Windermere? Lady Bracknell? Oscar must decide!”
Where: Fern Studio at Greenside
When: 1-16 Aug (not 10 Aug)
Ticket link: https://www.edfringe.com/tickets/whats-on/wilde-women
Krista talks about Mrs Langtry’s ‘Wilde’ appeal below.
Lillie Langtry remains a compelling character. Why do you think people remember her?
I think she’s more remembered in the UK than in the US, probably because, to this day, romances between royals and celebrities are great fodder for the media and become part of British national history.
Her affair with Prince Albert [the future Edward VII] increased her visibility as an actress in the British press, which in turn made her a commodity worthy of lucrative theatrical touring in the States.
Once she played some of the big theatres there, her brand increased in popularity.
Where did the idea of focusing on Oscar Wilde’s female characters come from?
I wanted to create a solo play that I could produce and perform myself, and I wanted it to have a theatrical connection.
I liked the idea behind Women of Will and other one-woman plays centered around Shakespeare’s female roles.
I figured if it could work with Shakespeare it could work with Wilde; I’ve always used monologues and scenes from his plays in my acting courses, so I started gathering that material, then started researching Wilde’s life and associations.
Lillie Langtry kept popping up, so I did more digging on her. Given her close relationship with Oscar and her storied acting career, I felt she was the right nucleus to structure the dramatic material around.
How did you get your start in theatre? Do you find Fringe festivals inspiring?
I did a few little school plays as a kid and dove into it earnestly in high school and found my tribe. I haven’t looked back since.
I’ve been to the Edinburgh Fringe Festival twice—I did a reconnaissance trip in 2023 and shadowed a friend’s one-woman show to see if this production would fly.
I was inspired to see so many successful solo pieces. New works are risky for US non-profit theatre companies, and festivals give the opportunity to get some exposure and reliable feedback.
What are you looking forward to the most at Edinburgh?
People who attend festivals like this are usually very open-minded and curious, so I’m really looking forward to the audiences and to networking with other actors and artists.
I’m also excited to be one of the worker bees in a huge hive of theatre people!
Where can we see your work after Fringe?
I hope that you’ll see other actresses perform Wilde Women, as I intend to get it published!
As far as my own performance work, I’ll be in a production of The Birds, adapted by Conor McPherson this fall at Amphibian Stage in Fort Worth, TX, where I am based.