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The Importance of Being Earnest

Presented by Austin Playhouse at Austin Playhouse

January 14-February 13, 2011

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Continuing the raging success of the 2010-2011 season, Austin Playhouse produces Oscar Wilde’s light effervescent comedy The Importance of Being Earnest. The play has been deemed a classic favorite and was produced into an award-winning film in 2002 starring Colin Firth and Reese Witherspoon.



Written in 1884 and first produced the following year, The Importance of Being Earnest is directly influenced by Great Britain’s late Victorian era. Wilde continuously makes light of the era’s mores, social customs, marriage, and particularly the pursuit of love.



The play features Jack, who is a seemingly responsible and respectable young man; but Jack leads a double life. At his country estate, Jack is known as Jack, but in the city, he is known as Ernest. Even Jack’s best friend Algernon who has known him for years, thinks he is Earnest. As Jack begins to fall in love with a woman who believes his name is Earnest, he finds himself in peculiar and amusing situations.



The Importance of Being Earnest has been considered Wilde’s artistic breakthrough—combining self-parody and a humorous commentary on the melodramatic genre in which he had already had so much success.

• At-a-
  Glance

  • Venue Info

    Austin Playhouse

    3601 South Congress Avenue
    Austin, TX 78704

    Full map and directions

  • Admission Info

    Tickets:

    $26 Thursday and Friday, $28 Saturday and Sunday, $35 Opening Night

    Check for Discount Ticket

  • Dates & Times

    Dates:
    January 14-February 13, 2011

    Times:
    

    January 14 – February 13; Thursday–Saturday at 8 p.m. and Sunday at 5 p.m.

  • Accessibility Info

    

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    Currently, additional images/videos have not been submitted for this event.

  • Member Reviews

    Add review/comment

    • Event Name: The Importance of Being Earnest
      "Oscar Wilde Would Have Been Wowed"
      Review posted by: Stephen from Austin TX, Jan 31, 2011
      

      I have seen the production of The Importance of Being Earnest performed about 6 times now but I knew when it came up on the schedule for the Austin Playhouse that I would so enjoy it. First and... Expand

      I have seen the production of The Importance of Being Earnest performed about 6 times now but I knew when it came up on the schedule for the Austin Playhouse that I would so enjoy it. First and foremost there are no theatres in my mind that can consistently keep up with the Austin Playhouse for understanding what it takes to have a stellar show. They have a company troupe that could be about the size of 30 but within this group are performers I have seen bring out a depth and range from top to bottom that makes me a season ticket holder without question. This cast is so well gifted. There are no small roles and the cast knows how to make the most of their time on stage without it appearing as if they are battling for egos. The costuming is top rate and the dialogue maybe fast and filled with words but that was how it was intended. Please see it if you can as ticket sales have been wonderful. Please reward the Austin treasure of Austin Playhouse with your patronage. Collapse

    • Event Name: The Importance of Being Earnest
      "An Evening of Delightfully Earnest Fun"
      Review posted by: Michael A Foster from Austin Texas, Jan 17, 2011
      

      Oscar Wilde is surely looking down from his place in heaven with much delight at the latest incarnation of his brilliant work at the Austin Playhouse.Wilde's play is a comedy of manners that satirizes... Expand

      Oscar Wilde is surely looking down from his place in heaven with much delight at the latest incarnation of his brilliant work at the Austin Playhouse.Wilde's play is a comedy of manners that satirizes Victorian manners & customs, but he does it with a light, witty style that's absolutely unforgettable.The staging is simple,& the costumes are period. However it is the witty and fast dialog that delights and thrills. Listen carefully and you will be shocked,amused, and ably entertained by the performances of a dedicated and talented cast. I found especially noteworthy the delivery of the following actors:Jason, Benjamin, Corley, Kimberly, Bernadette, Rick, Hans, and Michael. Oh my!-that is the entire cast!The only fault with this play is that one is so well entertained that the time simply flies by. A fav line from the play:"It is absurd to have a hard and fast rule about what one should read and what one shouldn't. More than half of modern culture depends on what one shouldn't read." Collapse

    • Event Name: The Importance of Being Earnest
      ""Wilde" About Earnest"
      Review posted by: Lassie from Austin TX, Jan 16, 2011
      

      The Austin Playhouse’s performance of The Importance of Being Earnest is a great opportunity to “get your Brit-Com on”. I happen to love the British comedies – and this is a great way to sit... Expand

      The Austin Playhouse’s performance of The Importance of Being Earnest is a great opportunity to “get your Brit-Com on”. I happen to love the British comedies – and this is a great way to sit in the audience of a Victorian-era version of them. The actors are spot-on with their accents and comedic timing - as seen by Jason Newman playing the perfect Dandy of the day. Follow along with Jack/Earnest as he travels from town to country estate meeting with those who only know him as one character or the other…and then the two worlds collide! Watching scene-stealing Lady Bracknell is priceless as the snooty, upper-crust aunt who has her hands full trying to keep Gwendolyn from marrying someone “beneath her”. Diana Huckaby’s talent in costuming shines through on each actor – bringing the fashion-conscious, over-the-top mens’ and ladies’ wear to life. What a great way to kick off your new year – come spend an evening with Earnest see for yourself the importance of being earnest! Collapse

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    Currently, additional images/videos have not been submitted for this event.

• Member
  Reviews

  • Member Reviews

    Add review/comment

    • Event Name: The Importance of Being Earnest
      "Oscar Wilde Would Have Been Wowed"
      Review posted by: Stephen from Austin TX, Jan 31, 2011
      

      I have seen the production of The Importance of Being Earnest performed about 6 times now but I knew when it came up on the schedule for the Austin Playhouse that I would so enjoy it. First and... Expand

      I have seen the production of The Importance of Being Earnest performed about 6 times now but I knew when it came up on the schedule for the Austin Playhouse that I would so enjoy it. First and foremost there are no theatres in my mind that can consistently keep up with the Austin Playhouse for understanding what it takes to have a stellar show. They have a company troupe that could be about the size of 30 but within this group are performers I have seen bring out a depth and range from top to bottom that makes me a season ticket holder without question. This cast is so well gifted. There are no small roles and the cast knows how to make the most of their time on stage without it appearing as if they are battling for egos. The costuming is top rate and the dialogue maybe fast and filled with words but that was how it was intended. Please see it if you can as ticket sales have been wonderful. Please reward the Austin treasure of Austin Playhouse with your patronage. Collapse

    • Event Name: The Importance of Being Earnest
      "An Evening of Delightfully Earnest Fun"
      Review posted by: Michael A Foster from Austin Texas, Jan 17, 2011
      

      Oscar Wilde is surely looking down from his place in heaven with much delight at the latest incarnation of his brilliant work at the Austin Playhouse.Wilde's play is a comedy of manners that satirizes... Expand

      Oscar Wilde is surely looking down from his place in heaven with much delight at the latest incarnation of his brilliant work at the Austin Playhouse.Wilde's play is a comedy of manners that satirizes Victorian manners & customs, but he does it with a light, witty style that's absolutely unforgettable.The staging is simple,& the costumes are period. However it is the witty and fast dialog that delights and thrills. Listen carefully and you will be shocked,amused, and ably entertained by the performances of a dedicated and talented cast. I found especially noteworthy the delivery of the following actors:Jason, Benjamin, Corley, Kimberly, Bernadette, Rick, Hans, and Michael. Oh my!-that is the entire cast!The only fault with this play is that one is so well entertained that the time simply flies by. A fav line from the play:"It is absurd to have a hard and fast rule about what one should read and what one shouldn't. More than half of modern culture depends on what one shouldn't read." Collapse

    • Event Name: The Importance of Being Earnest
      ""Wilde" About Earnest"
      Review posted by: Lassie from Austin TX, Jan 16, 2011
      

      The Austin Playhouse’s performance of The Importance of Being Earnest is a great opportunity to “get your Brit-Com on”. I happen to love the British comedies – and this is a great way to sit... Expand

      The Austin Playhouse’s performance of The Importance of Being Earnest is a great opportunity to “get your Brit-Com on”. I happen to love the British comedies – and this is a great way to sit in the audience of a Victorian-era version of them. The actors are spot-on with their accents and comedic timing - as seen by Jason Newman playing the perfect Dandy of the day. Follow along with Jack/Earnest as he travels from town to country estate meeting with those who only know him as one character or the other…and then the two worlds collide! Watching scene-stealing Lady Bracknell is priceless as the snooty, upper-crust aunt who has her hands full trying to keep Gwendolyn from marrying someone “beneath her”. Diana Huckaby’s talent in costuming shines through on each actor – bringing the fashion-conscious, over-the-top mens’ and ladies’ wear to life. What a great way to kick off your new year – come spend an evening with Earnest see for yourself the importance of being earnest! Collapse

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  Reviews

  • Media Reviews

    There are currently no media reviews for this event.