The Importance of Being Earnest

The Importance of Being Earnest is a classic comedy, written by Oscar Wilde.

It is set in England during the Victorian era and its main source of humour is based upon the main character's (Jack) fictional friend "Earnest", whom he uses to avoid various distasteful social obligations. Through the pretend friend "Earnest," Algernon is able to feign both piety and dedication - as "Bunbury" is in ill health, of course - while avoiding any obligations he chooses, due to his unfailing dedication to his sick friend. He discloses the fictional friend to his real-life best friend, Jack, who himself has assumed the identity of "Earnest" in order to allow himself to visit the city whenever he desires. Alas, unbeknownst to Algernon, Jack has announced the tragic death of his friend, "Earnest," as the ruse begins to interfere with his own romantic quests. A hilarious series of comic misunderstandings follow, as Algernon-as-Earnest visits the country (as a dead man, as far as the hosts are aware) and Jack shows up in his mourning clothes. It is similar to William Shakespeare's A Comedy of Errors and contains many examples of Wilde's famous wit.

It has a small cast, which is as follows:

• Algernon Moncrieff
• Cecily Cardew
• Jack Worthing
• Miss Prism
• Dr. Chasuble
• Lady Bracknell
• Lane
• Merriman
• Gwendolen Fairfax