The Importance of Being Earnest

by Site Admin on Saturday, August 9, 2008
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by Oscar Wilde

Tuesday 7th to Saturday 11th October
Swan Theatre, Worcester
Worcester Live box office: 01905 611 427

The play

This is the most high-spirited and light-hearted of farcical comedies. Oscar Wilde’s masterpiece was the climax of the brilliance he brought to the English stage in the late nineteenth century. The play’s wit has won it its place among the classics.

That wit turns accepted ideas upside down and throws fresh light on the most everyday happenings and makes the dialogue sparkle. With all its absurdity of story, character and situation, it is a consummately well-constructed play. Plot, sub-plot, past and present obstacles, twists and denouements are delicately and skilfully slipped into all the right places. It is set in the elegant and luxurious world of Mayfair and the English manor house. Its nine characters are as enjoyable as they are impossible. John Worthing is in love with Gwendolen Fairfax, daughter of the redoubtable Lady Bracknell and cousin of his friend Algernon Moncrieff. They cannot wed until the mystery of his parentage has been resolved to Lady Bracknell’s satisfaction. Algernon falls for John’s ward Cecily Cardew, much to John’s chagrin and farcical complications ensue.

Cast and crew

John Worthing — Mr. Simon Atkins
Algernon Moncrieff — Mr. Christopher Broadfield
Lady Bracknell — Mrs. Patricia Hobday
Hon Gwendolen Fairfax — Miss Kathryn Bellamy
Cecily Cardew — Miss Sophie McLellan
Miss Prism — Mrs. Pauline Lowe
Rev. Canon Chasuble — Mr. John Horton
Merriman — Mr. Frank Welbourne
Lane — Mr.Oliver Goldfinch

Director — Mr. Tim Crow

Designer — Mr. Chris Crosswell

Stage Manager — Mr. Christopher Harper
D.S.M. — Mrs. Elizabeth Goldfinch
Lighting Design — Mr.Howerd Brooksbank
A.S.M. — Mrs Brenda Williams

Performance