Man, all I am saying is that, wooden line readings/self-aware poses by the couch/misunderstandings of the material/general lack of facial expressions aside, that Branden Waugh is one handsome dude. When are we going to see more of him, am I right?
To address another issue, it seems pretty obvious to me that the story takes place beginning around the time of the first nuclear weapons (late thirties/early forties) and then skips ahead to sometime in the seventies, as evidenced by some sexy disco and wide lapels. Also this would account for the non-immortal, non-devil-painting-having characters having gray hair.
As for Basil being a woman, I believe Wilde intended to maker her a woman in the first place but then maybe he forgot? I'm not sure. But he made Basil a painter. And come on, folks, guys don't paint.