The Importance of Being Earnest is known to elegantly lampoon the hypocrisies of a Victorian society and opens as two bachelors, the dependable John Worthing, J.P. and upper class playboy Algernon Moncrieff, feel compelled to create different identities in order to pursue two eligible ladies Cecily Cardew and Gwendolyn Fairfax. The hilarious misadventures which result from their subterfuge; their brushes with the redoubtable Lady Bracknell and the uptight Miss Prism result in a plot that twists and fizzles with some of the finest dialogue to be found in theatre. Read more …
A refreshing take on this timeless three-act play.
Anyone who had not seen the play before would find the production pleasant enough but would surely struggle to see why it is so highly regarded a work, which is testament to how far this version misses the mark.
While the rehearsal room role-call of offstage affairs, reluctant butlers and cricketing distractions add an extra layer of hammed-up identity crises, they aren't fully followed through enough to be much more than a one-line diversion.
This is a glorious romp through a classic play, aided and abetted by the pedigree of acting talent onstage.
If the trend for older actors playing young roles is to continue, though, we need to consider how far we expect audiences to accept what Dickie calls “the illusion of theatre”; and how far we need the kind of framing devices that can open up endless possibilities, but sometimes only patronise the audience, by offering one explanation too many.
[Sian Phillips elevates] what may have been an otherwise unremarkable adaptation.
There may be some disappointed audience members who bought tickets believing they were about to see a ‘straight’ production of Wilde’s Classic and one can’t help thinking this would have been glorious had it been staged thus, but there’s a brace of fine performances and a visually pleasing set to keep the audience engaged. Ultimately, though, it’s a case of what might have been.
King's Theatre, Edinburgh from Tuesday November 10, 2015, until Saturday November 14, 2015. More info: http://www.edtheatres.com/kings
Theatre Royal, Glasgow from Tuesday November 24, 2015, until Saturday November 28, 2015. More info: www.theambassadors.com/theatreroyalglasgow/
RSS feed of Theatre reviews