The Importance of Being Earnest

This review originally featured on the 'About Milton Keynes' website:

The Importance of Being Earnest.

Milton Keynes Theatre.

Oscar Wilde’s The Importance of Being Earnest was first performed in 1895 and is still making audiences laugh today with its wit and dry humour.  The play is a classic and one of Oscar Wilde’s best works with its rather complicated storyline.  This version has been sprinkled with a modern twist and has a sublime script.  How often do you see Nigel Havers in bright red Nike trainers on his mobile phone?  This particular show starts with a group of people deciding to put on a performance of ‘The Importance’ so some in-house theatrical humour has been added.  For example there are comments about when should cucumber sandwiches be available for a dress rehearsal and a discussion about if Algernon should add a wink.  But the ‘director’ wants ‘More Oscar less Panto’.  It’s defiantly a new way of performing the show and the modern twist gives it definition to when they are ‘performing’.  Also, I’m quite sure the 50 shades reference was not included in Wilde’s original work. (Add wink here, Mr Director).

The ‘Importance’ storyline starts with Algernon Moncrieff meeting his friend John Worthing who Algie knows as Earnest.  Algernon is played by Nigel Havers and he is totally charming in the role.  He gives the lovable rogue his own touch and you can’t help but like him.  There is even a comment in the script about his good hair!  Martin Jarvis plays John/Jack/Earnest and is absolutely fantastic.  His diction and delivery of the role is exquisite and as he and Nigel are on stage for most of the play, they hold the show together.

Earnest is in love with Gwendolen, Algie’s cousin and when Algie asks about the inscription in his cigarette case,  Earnest admits he is living a double life. In the country he is known as John (or Jack, his nickname) to look after his ward, Cecily. In the city he is known as Earnest.  Gwendolen and her mother, Lady Bracknell then calls on Algernon and he distracts Lady Bracknell while Jack proposes to Gwendolen.  She accepts but makes it clear she could only love someone with the name, Earnest.  Lady Bracknell is played by Sian Phillips and although she isn’t on the stage for much of the show, she gives such a presence that you are left wanting more.  Sian is outstanding as Lady Bracknell and gets some of the best lines such as:

·         “To lose one parent, Mr. Worthing, may be regarded as a misfortune; to lose both looks like carelessness.”

·         “I have always been of the opinion that a man who desires to get married should know either everything or nothing. Which do you know?”

·         “To speak frankly, I am not in favor of long engagements. They give people the opportunity of finding out each other’s character before marriage, which I think is never advisable.”

·         “You are perfectly right in making some slight alteration. Indeed, no woman should ever be quite accurate about her age. Thirty-five is a very attractive age. London society is full of women of the very highest birth who have, of their own free choice, remained thirty-five for years.”

The next scene finds us in the country with Cecily, Jacks ward, who is studying in the garden with Miss Prisim, her Governess.  Algie turns up at the country house pretending to be Earnest, Jack’s brother.  Algie and Cecily fall for each other and it turns out Cecily also has a huge affection for the name Earnest.  Jack then returns to the house, pretending to have killed off Earnest.  Then Gwen turns up and in the absence of the two men she meets Cecily who while they decide to be friends then confide in each other they are both engaged to Earnest.  Cecily is played by Christine Kavanagh and Gwendolen is played by Carmen Du Sautoy. This scene is a perfect opportunity for these two wonderful actresses to show their skills as they are both not happy about the other being engaged to Earnest.

This show has a stellar cast full of veteran actors who give a fantastic performance.  It is such an enjoyable play that it is of no importance if you know the show well or have never seen it before.  All that matters is that "I've now realised for the first time in my life the vital importance of being Earnest."