The Importance of Being Earnest

The Importance of Being Earnest was written by Oscar Wilde as a play during the Victorian era. It has also been adapted as a film several times. The most recent in 2002.

IMDb: 6.9 out of 10

Categories: Comedy

Ages: 15-up

Synopsis

The original production of The Importance of Being Earnest in 1895 with Allan Aynesworthas Algernon (left) and George Alexander as John (right)
Wikipedia

This play is a comedy about two gentlemen who fall in love with two ladies who wish to marry men named Earnest. It goes through the gentlemen wanting to marry the ladies but they have to change their names. Because each girl believes the gentlemen’s names are Earnest. The men created a fake persona, Jack, has a “brother” named Earnest, which he “visits” during the summer in the city. While his friend, Algernon, who lives in the city, has a “friend” named Mr. Bunbury, who he visits when he needs a break from his Aunt Augusta, Lady Bracknell. The ladies, Cecily who is Jack’s ward, and Gwendolen who is Lady Bracknell daughter discover their real names and work together to get back at Jack and Algernon. Lady Bracknell comes in and finds out that Jack was an orphan and will not allow him and Gwendolen to marry. He has to prove who his birth parents are in order to marry Lady Bracknell’s daughter. He knew he was left in a handbag at the train station and was adopted and raised by a wealthy man. There is a discovery of his lineage and family which grants him permission for the marriage and he also allows the marriage of Cecily and Algernon after negotiating with Lady Bracknell.

Review

This is a witty play about honesty and manners. It’s fun for high-schoolers, college age on up. It is based during the late Victorian Era, which did cause some stir with audiences when it was first performed. A variety of film adaptations are available and are popular with audiences. In the story, discovery in birth parents and birth family and knowing about lineage take place, though Jack, has always been happy with who he is, Lady Bracknell, wants to know his history. The story can have some sensitive moments but does not focus on these. This play is a comedy and meant to be entertaining for the audience on the idea of being earnest with surprising twists.

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References

This is the link to the wikipedia article: [1].
This is the link to the Youtube trailer for the 2002 video. [2]