Rating: ★★★★★
Venue: Noël Coward Theatre, London
Cast: Olly Alexander, Nathan Stewart-Jarrett, Hugh Dennis, Shobna Gulati, Kitty Hawthorne, Jessica Whitehurst, Hayley Carmichael and Stephen Fry
Being sensible can be excessively boring. At least Jack thinks so. While assuming the role of dutiful guardian in the country, he lets loose in town under a false identity.
Meanwhile, his friend Algy takes on a similar façade. Unfortunately, living a double life has its drawbacks, especially when it comes to love. Hoping to impress two eligible ladies, the gentlemen find themselves caught in a web of lies they must carefully navigate.
After a stellar run at the National Theatre, this beloved Oscar Wilde play has returned, just as bright and just as bold. If you missed it last year, despair not! This production is every bit the camp, joyous celebration reviewers were raving about, and now you can catch it too at the Noël Coward.
With a completely new star-studded cast led by Olly Alexander and Nathan Stewart-Jarrett, (and featuring Stephen Fry!) The Importance of Being Earnest is not to be missed. Not only are the performances exceptional, but the respect and reverence for the material make the production shine even brighter than any amount of stunning stage design (which it has) or hilarious physical comedy (which it also has in droves) ever could.
Director Max Webster brings a fresh, dynamic energy to this beloved classic. His nuanced direction allows the cast to truly elevate the script, with Kitty Hawthorne, Jessica Whitehurst, and Hayley Carmichael offering particularly standout performances. Their comedic timing is impeccable, striking a perfect balance between subtle wit and raucous exaggeration.
Wilde's legacy is inextricably linked to his persecution. Just months after this play's 1895 premiere, he was arrested and imprisoned for "gross indecency," which is Victorian for “being gay”. This production's infectious joy and bold "earnestness" (pun intended) feel like the ultimate and most fitting tribute to his genius.
I left the theatre feeling overjoyed to see such a fantastic take on a beloved classic. Whether you are familiar with the play or you are coming at it completely blind, a night enjoyed in the company of Mr. Algernon Moncrieff and Jack Worthing will not disappoint.
You can book tickets to The Importance of Being Earnest, here.
Review by Luma
**photo credit: Marc Brenner**
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