OSCAR Wilde’s greatly admired The Importance of Being Earnest, starring Gwen Taylor, heads to the Theatre Royal in Winchester this week.
Oscar Wilde’s comedy follows Jack Worthing’s endeavours to marry Algernon’s cousin, the beautiful Gwendolen. But first he must convince the fearsome Lady Bracknell of his respectability. Wilde’s classic looks at the clash of town and country in a story of romance, identity, perambulators and capacious handbags.
This witty, deliciously decadent revival by The Original Theatre Company stars national treasure Gwen Taylor as the formidable Lady Bracknell and the hapless Miss Prism will be played by Susan Penhaligon.
They will be joined by Hannah Louise Howell as Gwendolen, Geoff Aymer as Chasuble, Louise Coulthard as Cecily, Downton Abbey favourite Thomas Howes as Algernon, West End star Peter Sandys-Clarke as Jack and Simon Shackleton as Lane/Merriman.
The Importance of Being Earnest will be at Theatre Royal Winchester from today (Tuesday) to Saturday at 7.30pm with matinees tomorrow (Wednesday) and Saturday at 2.30pm. There will be a free post-show chat with some of the cast and chief executive of Theatre Royal Winchester Deryck Newland, following the Thursday performance.
Tickets are available from www.theatreroyalwinchester.co.uk or call 01962 840440.