The Importance Of Being Earnest at Noel Coward Theatre

"He lives up to the task. What is literally built around him is gorgeous. Rae Smith's set changes from a beautiful drawing room to a flamboyant garden to a dramatic reception room, marble statues and all. The costumes, too, also designed by Smith, are increasingly fabulous, none more so than Lady Bracknell's billowing skirts and sparkling jewellery. Jack and Algernon look, in every outfit, like they are straight off the red carpet at the Met Gala."

"In Oscar Wilde's day, The Importance Of Being Earnest a play about young, upper class men living double lives shrouded its references to homosexuality in innuendo. Today, the play no longer deals with taboos, and its high camp potential is unleashed triumphantly by Max Webster's interpretation. Jack, played by Nathan Stewart-Jarrett (Angels in America, The History Boys), is a reputable landowner in Hertfordshire whose false identity as Earnest allows him to have fun in the city."

Stephen Fry dominates as Lady Bracknell, commanding the stage and drawing frequent laughter. Rae Smith's designs provide lavish, transformative sets and increasingly fabulous costumes that elevate every scene. The production shifts effortlessly from drawing room to flamboyant garden to a dramatic reception room complete with marble statues, and the curtain call features dazzling floral costumes. Max Webster's direction emphasizes the play's high camp potential, freeing formerly coded references to sexuality. Nathan Stewart-Jarrett plays Jack, whose false identity as Earnest facilitates city pleasures, while Olly Alexander portrays Algernon, who relies on Bunburying to escape society. Lady Bracknell drives the plot and resolves the central mystery involving a hand.

Read at www.london-unattached.com