The Importance of Being Earnest - Oscar Wilde - Review
The Importance of being Earnest is a farcical comedy play staged during the fag end of 19th century, it’s set up against the cultural backdrop of London. Apparently, Oscar Wilde has produced three other successful plays which led to another resounding play centered around the fictitious character Earnest.
Six key characters drive the entire storyline – Jack
Worthing and Algernon who are men in the age of finding a spouse for themselves,
Augusta who is probably in her fifties bound with the culture of her era, an attractive
women Gwendolen, pretty teenager Cecily and mistress Prism. There are few more
characters involved but they play minor role across the scenes.
Jack and Algernon misrepresent themselves as Ernest to woe
their respective sweethearts. To their delight both the ladies fall in love with
their prospective partner assuming them to have been christened Earnest. The
situation takes a deadly turn as both the ladies unexpectedly meet each other
exposing the fictitious character played by their love interest.
Given the fall of events, how does both the men tackle the
situation, what comedy of errors playout when all the characters meet on a
single stage and finally is there a mystery unravelled by the old mistress
Prism. The third act uncovers the answers to the many other curious questions of an
enthusiastic audience.
Maybe a play that can be read during a breezy train journey.
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