The Importance of Being Earnest Angelina Redondo Nicole Summa Justin Streim

Oscar Wilde Oscar Fingal O'Flahertie Wills Wilde Oscar Fingal O'Flahertie Wills Wilde Born October 16, 1854 in Dublin Born October 16, 1854 in Dublin Attended Portora Royal School Attended Portora Royal School Won scholarship to Trinity College Won scholarship to Trinity College Won Classics scholarship to Magdalen College in Oxford Won Classics scholarship to Magdalen College in Oxford

Influences John Ruskin John Ruskin Slade Professor of Fine Art Slade Professor of Fine Art Believed art was a vital and essential part of life, not to be enjoyed exclusively by the educated Believed art was a vital and essential part of life, not to be enjoyed exclusively by the educated Appealed to Wilde’s intellectual and high-minded side Appealed to Wilde’s intellectual and high-minded side Walter Pater Walter Pater Fellow of Brasenose College Fellow of Brasenose College Advocated the love of art for its own sake Advocated the love of art for its own sake Appealed to Wilde’s sensual and mystical side Appealed to Wilde’s sensual and mystical side

Aesthetic Movement Belief in art for art’s sake Belief in art for art’s sake Art exists for beauty alone Art exists for beauty alone Does not need moral purpose Does not need moral purpose “love art for its own sake, and then all things that you need will be added to you” -Wilde -Wilde

Gilbert and Sullivan’s Patience Satire of aesthetic movement Satire of aesthetic movement Main character rumored to be modeled after Wilde Main character rumored to be modeled after Wilde Wilde invited to America for a lecture tour to popularize the opera in America Wilde invited to America for a lecture tour to popularize the opera in America

Downfall of Oscar Wilde Marquess of Queensbury angry over his son’s relationship with Wilde Marquess of Queensbury angry over his son’s relationship with Wilde He left a calling card at Wilde's club, with the note: He left a calling card at Wilde's club, with the note: "To Oscar Wilde posing Somdomite”

Trial of Oscar Wilde Oscar sued the Marquess for libel, but later withdrew the charges Oscar sued the Marquess for libel, but later withdrew the charges Wilde was then arrested for homosexual offenses Wilde was then arrested for homosexual offenses After three trials, he was convicted and sentenced to two years of hard labour After three trials, he was convicted and sentenced to two years of hard labour

Death Wilde left for France after being released from prison Wilde left for France after being released from prison Died on November 30, 1900, at the age of 46 Died on November 30, 1900, at the age of 46 Originally buried in the insignificant Bagneaux Cemetery Originally buried in the insignificant Bagneaux Cemetery Moved to Père Lachaise on July 19, 1909 Moved to Père Lachaise on July 19, 1909

Performance History Premiered February 14, 1895 at the St. James Theatre in London Premiered February 14, 1895 at the St. James Theatre in London Received rave reviews Received rave reviews “The Importance of Being Earnest is an excellent, refined farce. It was received with almost incessant laughter. Few farces in recent years have been as successful.” “The Importance of Being Earnest is an excellent, refined farce. It was received with almost incessant laughter. Few farces in recent years have been as successful.” -Rose Leclereq

“It is extraordinarily funny, and the universal assumption is that it will remain on the boards here for an indefinitely extended period.” - New York Times February 1895

However…. Within 100 days the play was closed due to Wilde’s conviction of acts of sodomy (this would please the GOP) Within 100 days the play was closed due to Wilde’s conviction of acts of sodomy (this would please the GOP)

Performance History American premiere: American premiere: Empire State Theater New York Empire State Theater New York April 23, 1895 April 23, 1895 “It has none of the bustle and grotesquerie of farce, yet its illusion is always mockery” “It has none of the bustle and grotesquerie of farce, yet its illusion is always mockery” “Such a play to be thoroughly enjoyed needs the finest possible performance, and at the Empire, unhappily, it misses that.” “Such a play to be thoroughly enjoyed needs the finest possible performance, and at the Empire, unhappily, it misses that.” -New York Times: April 1895

“Oh, Earnest” Musical version of play Musical version of play “below the average of musical comedies” “below the average of musical comedies” “This musical incarnation of Wilde’s play manages somehow to sound excessively witless.” “This musical incarnation of Wilde’s play manages somehow to sound excessively witless.” -New York Times May 1927

Earnest’s Return January 7, 1902 January 7, 1902 First production of any of Wilde’s plays in London since his trials First production of any of Wilde’s plays in London since his trials Program credited author as “the author of Lady Windermere’s Fan” (Oscar’s dying wish) Program credited author as “the author of Lady Windermere’s Fan” (Oscar’s dying wish) “The play was received with great enthusiasm from a packed house.” - New York Time January 1902

Earnest Goes to the Movies

Similar to live performance Similar to live performance Rating: 5 out of 5 stars Rating: 5 out of 5 stars Prominent actors Prominent actors Michael Redgrave as Jack Worthing Michael Redgrave as Jack Worthing Edith Evans as Lady Bracknell Edith Evans as Lady Bracknell Nominated for BAFTA award Nominated for BAFTA award Most promising newcomer (Dorothy Tutin as Cecily Cardew) Most promising newcomer (Dorothy Tutin as Cecily Cardew)

Earnest Goes to the Movies Made for TV Movie Made for TV Movie All black cast All black cast Rating: 4 out of 5 stars Rating: 4 out of 5 stars “Although the setting has been moved up to the present, Wilde's epigrammatic dialogue has been left largely intact. The most obvious contemporary references come from the mouth of Lady Bracknell, who disapproves of rap music while lauding jazz. One scene is set on a patio alongside a very contemporary swimming pool, and the wardrobes are very up to date.” - Steven Holden, New York Times

Earnest Goes to the Movies Abandoned all elements of stage Abandoned all elements of stage Prominent actors Prominent actors Rupert Everett Rupert Everett Judi Dench Judi Dench Colin Firth Colin Firth Reese Witherspoon Reese Witherspoon

Earnest Goes to the Movies Wilde’s famous epigrams are still integrated and well spoken Wilde’s famous epigrams are still integrated and well spoken The score is not reminiscent of the 1890’s The score is not reminiscent of the 1890’s Succeeded in mocking the superficiality of the Victorian upper class Succeeded in mocking the superficiality of the Victorian upper class Rating: 4 out of 5 stars Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

The Play Today The play has been performed onstage an extremely large number of times and places The play has been performed onstage an extremely large number of times and places Today, an interesting adaptation of the play is being performed Today, an interesting adaptation of the play is being performed two men, a comedy duo called Ridiculusmus play all the parts two men, a comedy duo called Ridiculusmus play all the parts Runs Dec Jan Runs Dec Jan At the Loeb Drama Center At the Loeb Drama Center