The Importance of Being Earnest

The Importance of Being Earnest
by Southwestern University

Nov. 13 - Nov. 22, 2015
Thursdays-Sundays

First performed in 1895 in London, this is Oscar Wilde’s best – and most popular – comedy about two young gentlemen who create alter egos to escape obligations and to add excitement to their lives. Jack Worthing invents a brother, “Ernest,” whom he uses as an excuse to leave his boring country life and visit the beautiful Gwendolen in London. Gwendolen’s cousin, Algernon Moncrieff, invents “Bunbury,” whom he uses to leave London and head to the country. Algernon knows Jack’s secret and decides to visit Jack in the country. To complicate matters more he meets Jack’s attractive ward, Cecily, and introduces himself as “Ernest.” Things go awry when all of these hilarious characters end up in the country together and their deceptions are exposed – threatening their romances. The women soon discover there are too few Ernests being earnest!

(via Sarofim School of Fine Arts, Southwestern University)