Oscar Wilde's AN IDEAL HUSBAND Begins Previews At The Stratford Festival

Sparkling with Oscar Wilde's inimitable wit, Lezlie Wade's production of An Ideal Husband begins previews today at the Avon Theatre.

A suspenseful comedy-drama, the story centres on Sir Robert Chiltern, who enjoys a reputation as the only truly honest man in politics - until an unwelcome visitor, the deliciously devious Mrs. Cheveley, threatens to reveal the secret life that could destroy his career.

"This great play has both dramatic and comic elements and reflects the personal tragedy of Oscar Wilde's own life," says Artistic Director Antoni Cimolino. "Lezlie Wade, who has profound love for plays of this period, elegantly transports us back to London's high society in 1895. With brilliant set and costume design by Douglas Paraschuk and Patrick Clark, it's one of the most beautiful nights you'll spend at the theatre."

In a season exploring the theme of Free Will, An Ideal Husband shows how freedom sometimes comes in finding one's other half.

"The making of 'ideal' men and women is as unrealistic as it is dangerous," says Ms Wade. "Certainly, we are experiencing this very thing in our own era as we watch those we admire fall from grace. Oscar Wilde himself grappled with the ending of An Ideal Husband. His rewrites for this play are more extensive than any other he wrote. In the end, he chose to believe that love was the answer."

The cast features Tim Campbell as Sir Robert Chiltern, Brad Hodder as Lord Arthur Goring, Sophia Walker as Lady Gertrude Chiltern, Bahareh Yaraghi as Mrs. Laura Cheveley and Joseph Ziegler as The Earl of Caversham.

In addition to Mr. Paraschuk and Mr. Clark, artistic credits also include Lighting Designer Louise Guinand, Composer Leslie Arden, Sound Designer Richard Feren and Choreographer Diana Coatsworth.

An Ideal Husband opens on May 31 and runs until October 28.

The production is co-sponsored by Bard's Steakhouse.

Production support is generously provided by Nona Macdonald Heaslip and by Dr. Robert & Roberta Sokol.

Support for the 2018 season of the Avon Theatre is generously provided by the Birmingham family.

Photography by Clay Stang - The Garden.