Group Play - The Importance of Being Earnest by Oscar Wilde (Fall '13)

[Leslie]

Our first group play is Oscar Wilde's comedy, The Importance of Being Earnest. Discuss the play as well as any adaptations or performances of it here.

[Bionic Jean]

I'm in! Just downloaded it on my Kindle for free. But who else has seen Edith Evans' wonderful performance as Lady Bracknell in the old film?

[Jenny]

I haven't Jean! But I might try and find it once I've read the play. How old is old?

[Alannah]

Can't wait to reread this one, just need to try and find it somewhere in my room.

[Laurel]

Have got this on my kindle so will start once I finish Vanity Fair - am really looking forward to it!

[LauraT]

I'll start it ina week or two

[Bionic Jean]

Jenny - Really old - 1952! She was born in 1888 so was quite old by then. The film's a classic though, particularly for one word which I'd better not say here in case it's a spoiler. It's the word for an accessory, if you do know the play. There, that should be safe!!

There are bits on youtube if you google Edith Evans.

[Jenny]

Thank you Jean, I'll give it a try! ;)

[Bionic Jean]

Sorry if you saw the earlier mistake (which I've deleted) - she played the role on stage more than a decade earlier too.

[Leslie]

Jean wrote: "I'm in! Just downloaded it on my Kindle for free. But who else has seen Edith Evans' wonderful performance as Lady Bracknell in the old film?"

I think this is the one with Michael Redgrave - very good version! I enjoyed the most recent film with Colin Firth but this one is a lot better :)

[Bionic Jean]

Yep - Michael Redgrave and Michael Denison. The star is Dame Edith though! lol

[Alannah]

Found my copy wedged in between two giant books, can't wait to re-read it.

[Alannah]

I will flicking through this today or tomorrow to try and refresh my memory of it.

[Leslie]

I am listening to the Librivox recording (version 3) while I read the text. An excellent cast, I recommend it:

http://librivox.org/the-importance-of...

[Alannah]

Leslie wrote: "I am listening to the Librivox recording (version 3) while I read the text. An excellent cast, I recommend it:

http://librivox.org/the-importance-of..."

I might try it out then it would be easier to imagine the play in my head.

[Shirley]

Alannah wrote: "Leslie wrote: "I am listening to the Librivox recording (version 3) while I read the text. An excellent cast, I recommend it:

http://librivox.org/the-importance-of......"

Can we listen to this in the UK?

[Alannah]

Shirley wrote: "Alannah wrote: "Leslie wrote: "I am listening to the Librivox recording (version 3) while I read the text. An excellent cast, I recommend it:

http://librivox.org/the-importance-of......"

Yes, the link is working for me.

[Leslie]

Even though I have read this play several times, I keep being surprised by how funny some of the lines are! :)

[Poornima]

Leslie, I also listened to the dramatic version on Librivox. Enjoyed it!

[Laurel]

Thanks for the link Leslie - I might try listening and reading along!

[LauraT]

Leslie wrote: "I am listening to the Librivox recording (version 3) while I read the text. An excellent cast, I recommend it:

http://librivox.org/the-importance-of..."
Listening to the same!!!! I'm half way through. As usual I love Wilde nonsensicalities. Tomorrow I'll look for the text and copyandpaste something.
Just a personal aside: when I read it for the first time I was on my last year of High scool, preparing for my final exhams. I could not conceive cucomber sanwiches. Now I've started to appreciate them: too many years of english literature????

[Jenny]

LauraT wrote: "when I read it for the first time I was on my last year of High scool, preparing for my final exhams. I could not conceive cucomber sanwiches. Now I've started to appreciate them: too many years of english literature???? "

LOL, most likely!

@Leslie, thank you for the link, will start tonight or tomorrow!

[LauraT]

[Alannah]

Your picture is making me very hungry Laura, haha. :D

[Alannah]

I'm onto Act III. When I finish, I will try to post my thoughts straightaway as I will be taking a break from the site during the week and I don't know when I will be back but I will hide in the spoilers tab for the people in the group who haven't read it yet.

[LauraT]

Alannah wrote: "Your picture is making me very hungry Laura, haha. :D"

It was really lovely!!!

[Leslie]

Laura - is this our afternoon tea? Looks scrumptious!

[LauraT]

It was Leslie. A five O'Clock tea in Cambridge, just before coming back to Italy!!! And I wanted it thinking about Aunt Agusta!!!!

[Alannah]

Thanks again for the link Shirley although I didn't exactly have that voice for Lady Bracknell in my mind when I first read the play, it made re-reading the play a lot more enjoyable. Anyways here are my thoughts on the play:

(view spoiler)[
Marriage Considering that the whole play is basically a debate on marriage, I found this to be quite interesting as I consider the Victorian age to be quite revolutionary as the idea of the family became very important throughout this period, however the conventional family doesn't appear in this play as Jack was abandoned as a baby, he was then adopted and he is a guardian to Cecily as she appears not to have her parents around.

Food and Fashion I thought it was quite interesting that food appeared throughout the play quite a lot. However it gives the image in my mind that Algernon and Jack are quite overweight through overeating. But then again, wasn't it a good thing to be of a bigger size in the Victorian age because it showed you had money?

Characters
I didn't feel anything against Jack/Earnest for some reason, he needed to break away from his responsibilities that he took on because he felt a debt to his adopted father for taking him in. However, I did have to laugh at the fact he was simply left in a handbag it just doesn't seem real! I didn't like Gwendolen, even though she is supposed to embody the ideal Victorian woman, to me she just seemed fake and stuck up. So I guess that's why I just love Cecily, because she just appears to be the opposite of the ideal Victorian and they supposedly should strive to be. Even though she made up her romance with Earnest with her claiming that she and Algernon/Ernest are already engaged, I still found her to be very realistic as she was the only one who didn't speak in epigrams.

Overall, I still really enjoyed this play, I would give it 4 and half stars.

(hide spoiler)]

[Leslie]

Alannah wrote: "Thanks again for the link Shirley although I didn't exactly have that voice for Lady Bracknell in my mind when I first read the play, it made re-reading the play a lot more enjoyable. Anyways here ..."

I love the exchange between Cecily and Gwendolyn when they first meet - it is one of the high spots of the play for me! I might reread this bit with your idea in mind.

[Arpita (BagfullofBooks)]

I listened to the historical audio edition with John Gielgud as Earnest. Very old but wonderfully done. This play always never fails to make me laugh. I enjoy the part in which Jack kills his brother off in Paris only to have Algernon walk in to the plot as his dead brother. The beauty of this play in my opinion is that it is worthy of many re-reads.

[Alannah]

Leslie wrote: "Alannah wrote: "Thanks again for the link Shirley although I didn't exactly have that voice for Lady Bracknell in my mind when I first read the play, it made re-reading the play a lot more enjoyabl..."

Oh yes, that is definitely one of my favourite moments, my top one would when the two ladies find out about the men's real names.

[Arpita (BagfullofBooks)]

Yes I agree. A very satisfying , neatly tied/ up end Allanah.

[Scott]

I've seen some productions where Lady Bracknell was done in drag...and it takes it to another silly level...it is so hard to find a character actress like the original film....and the drag helps bring it over the top.

[Leslie]

Scott wrote: "I've seen some productions where Lady Bracknell was done in drag...and it takes it to another silly level...it is so hard to find a character actress like the original film....and the drag helps br..."

? Are you saying Lady Bracknell is played by a man in drag? Not sure that I like the idea...

[Leslie]

Arpita wrote: "I listened to the historical audio edition with John Gielgud as Earnest. Very old but wonderfully done. This play always never fails to make me laugh. I enjoy the part in which Jack kills his broth..."

Gielgud is marvelous - where did you find this edition?

I totally agree about the play being worthy of many rereads! One reason that it is a classic :)

[Arpita (BagfullofBooks)]

Boston public library has the audiobook for lending online. Gielgud is marvelous and everyone else does a great job even though the sound quality is not great.

[Leslie]

Arpita wrote: "Boston public library has the audiobook for lending online. Gielgud is marvelous and everyone else does a great job even though the sound quality is not great."

Great - thanks for letting me know. I'm not sure I can check things out of Boston's library but my local librarian will know! I am due for a visit to my library :)

[Arpita (BagfullofBooks)]

Leslie anyone living in MA can borrow online from BPL. You can register online and then borrow books via overdrive media downloader. You wont even have to physically visit the library. It's a great additional resource for books.

[Shirley]

Have just downloaded this on my kindle, so shall be reading this soon!

[Leslie]

Arpita wrote: "Leslie anyone living in MA can borrow online from BPL. You can register online and then borrow books via overdrive media downloader. You wont even have to physically visit the library. It's a great..."

Oh that is wonderful to know - I already have the Overdrive software too :)

[Alannah]

I hope everyone who wants to can see my spoilers, I will remove them closer to the end when more people have read this.

[Pink]

I've just finished reading this and enjoyed it. I think I might check out the audio or film version now :)

[LauraT]

Pink wrote: "I've just finished reading this and enjoyed it. I think I might check out the audio or film version now :)"

Yes I think that listening to - or even better seeing - it is a great advantage!!!

[Christine]

I requested the Colin Firth edition and the Edith Evans edition to watch after I finish reading.

It's funny reading this because sometimes I go, "What??" and reread, then remind myself who wrote this. haha

I'm about halfway through the play and it is funny but it has so much subtext, I'm never sure what he truly means!! haha

[LauraT]

The problem with Oscar Wilde is exactly this: he writes one sentence meaning three different things!

[Alannah]

LauraT wrote: "The problem with Oscar Wilde is exactly this: he writes one sentence meaning three different things!"

Which is good when you study the play in English, haha.

[LauraT]

Certainly!

[Leslie]

Christine wrote: "I requested the Colin Firth edition and the Edith Evans edition to watch after I finish reading.

It's funny reading this because sometimes I go, "What??" and reread, then remind myself who wrote ..."

I think that all that subtext is one reason I love this play so much! I get something different from it every time I read it.

Good idea to watch the film atferwards! Let me know how you think the two films compare :)

[Christine]

LauraT wrote: "The problem with Oscar Wilde is exactly this: he writes one sentence meaning three different things!"

YES!