Wild for Wilde

Oscar Wilde, an Irish writer, poet and playwright, is known both for the witty sharpness of his pen and the serious tragedies that befall him during his short life. He is probably most famous for his sole novel, A Picture of Dorian Grey, and for his masterpiece, The Importance of Being Earnest. A play with ‘no serious interest’ was requested, and Wilde delivered a seriously hilarious work of art. The three act play (originally four acts) trivializes seemingly serious ideas and institutions, particularly marriage. The two central characters, Jack and Algernon, each have an elaborate imaginary friend that they use to escape the serious obligations of their everyday lives in favor of pleasanter pastimes. Jack has led his ward, Cecily, and her governess Miss Prism, to believe that he leaves their country home for London regularly to deal with his naughty brother Ernest. In London, he takes on the persona of Ernest himself. Algernon, a London friend, has invented an invalid companion, Mr. Bunbury, whom he is supposedly obligated to visit in the country. During the course of the three acts there are many cases of mistaken identity, impulsive proposals, and finally a few “serious” revelations about the characters’ true identities. The plot, remarkably clever though it is, plays second fiddle to Wilde’s masterful manipulations of the English language. It is as if the words that comprise that old Webster Merriman Dictionary were put there expressly as toys for Wilde’s pen to play with.

The Wilde man himself!

Wilde's home in Dublin

The first production of The Importance of Being Earnest was met with wild approbation on all sides, except one: the father of Wilde’s male lover, the Marquess of Queensberry, had plans to foil the production by presenting Wilde with a bouquet of spoiled vegetables. Thankfully, Wilde got advanced warning of this malicious plan, and Queensberry was refused entry. The matter escalated, however, landing Wilde in court and eventually in prison, convicted of “gross indecency with other men.” He died shortly after his release, at the early age of forty six.

  

Brian Bedford as Lady Bracknell

A scene set in the garden

The Roundabout Theater Company has recently staged a revival of this play, and it does wonderful credit to Wilde’s wit. The director, Brian Bedford, also stars as the haughty society grande dame Lady Bracknell (a character based on the malevolent Queensberry’s wife!). This character is not traditionally played by a man, and no undue attention is drawn to the fact here, but it somehow works perfectly. Bedford, needless to say, steals the show, although the other actors fill the stage admirably, delivering their lines with great attention to tempo—a long pause here, a jumble of words there, the entire production was practically flawless. I would be remiss to neglect the set designers, who created really lovely scenes of a London living room, a country garden, and finally a library at the country estate. The sets are simple in structure, with beautifully drawn details that draw the eye in while keeping the focus on the actors and, more importantly, the words they speak. I feel so lucky to have spent two nights in a row enjoying the best of New York’s cultural offerings, and it reminds me that living in a city like this is a true privilege that is only enjoyed if you get off your couch, turn off the Real Housewives, and take it all in!  


images via Macklowe Gallery, cbc.ca, unknown