The Importance of Being Earnest

[EmmaGClarke]

Posted: 4/24/14 at 5:05am

I just wondered what everyone thought about the upcoming Importance of Being Earnest at the Harold Pinter? There's been quite a bit of confusion over it! It seems to be a 'play within a play' type deal, with the actors playing the Bunbury Company of Players who are putting on the show. The cast includes Nigel Havers (who was on the One Show talking about it last night) and Martin Jarvis. They were both in the 1982 version at the National and are two older actors, so they're obviously not playing the characters as the 20 year olds their supposed to be. What are everyone's thoughts on it? I'm quite excited for a shake up but not everyone will like the production if it isn't a 'straight' play.

[Phantom of London]

Posted: 4/24/14 at 1:03pm

It is hard to participate in this thread as your question is very pacific, but all what I can say is I will catch this, I haven't seen an Oscar Wilde play ever before, so I don't know what to expect.

[EmmaGClarke]

Posted: 4/25/14 at 5:05am

Surely discussing something specific is what a message board is for? I just wondered what people's thoughts were about the show as there hasn't been much publicity about it and there's been some confusion over on other forums, that's all.

[Phantom of London]

Posted: 4/25/14 at 10:27am

Yes it is.

That is only from my perspective, but ultimately ignorance that I couldn't give you a more comprehensive answer, so not speaking for everyone on here.

As I say I haven't seen Oscar Wilde before, so don't know what to expect!

[EmmaGClarke]

Posted: 4/30/14 at 12:35pm

No I have no idea what to expect either, I've studied a lot of Wilde's plays but have never seen any of them. I suppose the 2002 film made people more aware of the Earnest storyline, maybe that will pull more people into seeing it. The only useful information I've managed to find about the show is from http://www.importanceofbeingearnest.co.uk/, it gives a cast list but doesn't say who people will be playing. I can assume that Sian Phillips is Lady Bracknell, and then Martin Jarvis and Nigel Havers are playing the two lead men.

[ggersten]

Posted: 4/30/14 at 1:17pm

So long as one of my favorite exchnges is included, I'm good with it.
Spoiler Alert (?)

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Jack. I have lost both my parents.

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

[EmmaGClarke]

Posted: 5/1/14 at 4:52am

I'm sure it will be, it's one of the best lines!

[GlitterandBeGay2]

Posted: 5/2/14 at 7:11am

Being an Anglophile, I recognize all the names from the cast list except one and all are older performers. Rosalind Ayres and Martin Jarvis are married in real life and have worked together often. It's hard to guess who will play who though I agree that Sian Phillips is most likely Lady Bracknell.

Found this blurb: "According to press material, "The Bunbury Company of Players reside in Bunbury, South Cheshire in the North West of England, and specialise in late 19th Century and early 20th Century light comedy. Their productions of An Ideal Husband, and Pygmalion are well known, but their The Importance of Being Earnest has always been especially acclaimed."

I am not sure if Simon Brett is contributing new framework material for the Bunbury Players in his "company writer" capacity but I suppose this play-within-a-play approach makes it acceptable to accept older actors in the parts.

[GlitterandBeGay2]

Posted: 5/2/14 at 7:21am

Based on the cast head shots, I think you're right, EmmaGClarke, that Jarvis and Havers will play Algernon and Jack, Phillips as Lady Bracknell, Ayres as Miss Prism, Lunghi and Kavenagh as the two younger ladies, and Buggy as Chasuble.