Oscar Wilde meets Shameless and the critics and Offies judges love it. We’ve rounded up our favourite review highlights for the new Yorkshire-set Th’Importance of Bein’ Earnest, which continues at London’s Drayton Arms Theatre until 23 February. Get booking before it’s too late!
Jack loves Gwendolen, Gwendolen loves Ernest, Algy loves Cecily, Cecily loves Ernest, Gwendolen’s Ernest is Jack, Cecily’s Ernest is Algy and who on Earth is Burnbury!?
LKT Productions’ vivid reimagining of Oscar Wilde‘s classic 1895 comedy of manners relocates the action from Victorian London to a Yorkshire Council estate. The muscularity of the Yorkshire accent breathes new life into those famous lines and the reconfigured social structure offers a brand-new examination of class. Oscar Wilde meets Shameless.
Toby Hampton co-directs with Luke Adamson, who also plays Algernon. Adamson is joined in the cast of Th’Importance of Bein’ Earnest by Heather Dutton, Rob Pomfret, James King, Millie Gaston and Joshua Welch. The show is presented by LKT Productions.
Th’Importance of Bein’ Earnest runs from 5 to 23 February 2019 at Drayton Arms Theatre, 153 Old Brompton Road, London SW5 0LJ, with performances Tuesdays to Saturdays at 7.30pm. Tickets are priced £14-16. CLICK HERE TO PURCHASE!
Review highlights
Genni Trickett: “The transposition of the story from the genteel drawing rooms of Victorian London to a 90s council estate in northern England was an inspired idea. Gloriously tacky and insalubrious.”
London Pub Theatres Magazine – ★★★★★
“Have you ever wondered what happened to Vicky Pollard when she left Little Britain? Well, she moved up north to a Yorkshire council estate and I’ve just seen her with her family and friends.”
“Take away the well-to-do class, stick in plenty of drug references, and you have a brilliantly comedic take on a classic… By ‘eck, you’d be a right ninny to miss it!”
“A shamelessly clever, original and inventive reimagining of an Oscar Wilde classic, which he would most certainly endorse – no doubt commending to the hoi polloi with all alacrity too.”
“Luke Adamson and Toby Hampton have brought a raucous and raw relevance to Wilde’s dusty drawing rooms, blasted them with a new, invigorating humour; even the most over-heard of Wilde’s quips are recast with tremendous impact.”
Theatre & Art Reviews – ★★★★
“This latest adaptation of Wilde’s popular play has been reproduced in a hilariously upbeat farcical style… a well-constructed combination which makes for a great evening’s entertainment.”
Matthew Partridge: “Clever and modern Wilde adaptation…a strong performance of a classic play that will challenge your preconceptions about Wilde.”
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