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"Who really wears the pants in 19th century England?" At every other performance, the entire cast will switch male/female roles
Oscar Wilde’s brilliantly clever comedic masterpiece, The Importance of Being Earnest, was once called by critic W.H. Auden, “the only pure verbal opera in English.”
Earnest tells the story of two young gentlemen in London, who each live a double-life, creating elaborate deceptions to find some balance in their lives. John Worthing escapes the burdens of responsibility to have an exciting life in the city, pretending to be his fictitious younger brother Ernest. Algernon Moncrieff, meanwhile, has invented a convenient invalid, Bunbury, whom he uses as an excuse to gallivant off to the country whenever he pleases. When John falls in love with Algernon’s cousin, Gwendolen, he is determined to come clean, but when Gwendolen reveals she can only love a man named Ernest, it somewhat complicates things.
When Algernon discovers John’s secret and decides to visit John’s pretty little ward in the country, posing as the debauched “Ernest,” the situation gets entirely more complicated!
“hilarious and illuminate Wilde’s text in refreshing ways.” - New York Times
Oscar Wilde’s brilliantly clever comedic masterpiece, The Importance of Being Earnest, was once called by critic W.H. Auden, “the only pure verbal opera in English.”
Earnest tells the story of two young gentlemen in London, who each live a double-life, creating elaborate deceptions to find some balance in their lives. John Worthing escapes the burdens of responsibility to have an exciting life in the city, pretending to be his fictitious younger brother Ernest. Algernon Moncrieff, meanwhile, has invented a convenient invalid, Bunbury, whom he uses as an excuse to gallivant off to the country whenever he pleases. When John falls in love with Algernon’s cousin, Gwendolen, he is determined to come clean, but when Gwendolen reveals she can only love a man named Ernest, it somewhat complicates things.
When Algernon discovers John’s secret and decides to visit John’s pretty little ward in the country, posing as the debauched “Ernest,” the situation gets entirely more complicated!
“hilarious and illuminate Wilde’s text in refreshing ways.” - New York Times
Age Guidance: 13
Show Notes: 1 Intermission
Audience Advisory:
Performance is FREE Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays are traditional casting. Wednesdays, Fridays, and Sundays are reversed. This production is being staged in NYCT's signature Panoramic Theatre style, and the audience will move twice during the performance—once for each scene change. To receive ADVANCE program info, including RAIN CANCELATION NOTICE, make a FREE RESERVATION.
Performance Schedule:
TUESDAY thru SUNDAY @ 7 PM
Director
Stephen Burdman
Written by
Oscar Wilde
