Following a sold-out run at the National Theatre, The Importance of Being Earnest opened last night at the Noël Coward Theatre starring Olly Alexander and Stephen Fry.
Directed by Max Webster, this new fresh take on Oscar Wilde’s most celebrated comedy brings the story into the modern day and is a great example of how the classics can be adapted to appeal to new audiences.
The life of the upperclass can be dull. With all the money in the world, how does one amuse themselves? When you have everything and want for nothing, people like Jack Worthing and Algernon Moncrieff have to create their own fun – and this includes inventing imaginary characters in their lives to keep themselves entertained.
Jack the dutiful guardian in the country, lets loose in town under a false identity. Meanwhile, his friend Algy takes on a similar facade. Unfortunately, living a double life has its drawbacks, especially when it comes to love. Hoping to impress two eligible ladies, the gentlemen find themselves caught in a web of lies they must carefully navigate.
It’s hard to say who steals the show in this production as the cast are all insanely talented and perfect in their roles. Pop star Olly Alexander plays Algernon Moncrieff with colour and campness and Nathan Stewart-Jarrett as Jack Worthing is an over excitable puppy. Together the two giggle like school girls and create the perfect cauldron of mischief.
Stephen Fry as Lady Bracknell, may only be a secondary character in the play but has the most iconic and quoted lines, which he delivers to perfection.
Hayley Carmichael as servants Merriman/Lane is hilarious. A true display of how sometimes it is not about the dialogue but the physical comedy that can be subtly displayed.
I think the stand out performances have to go to Kitty Hawthorne and Jessica Whitehurst as Gwendolen Fairfax and Cecily Cardew, the neurotic, overly sexual but undersexed women, desperate to find husbands.
They create the stereotypical duo of women who turn on each other when a man is involved rather than holding him accountable for his actions. They then beautifully turn this around to find camaraderie, cake and the most iconic comedic performances.
The set and costume designs by Rae Smith are bright and colourful rather than drab and dreary as can sometimes be with period pieces and the curtain call plays beautiful homage to Oscar Wilde’s quote that the play was “written by a butterfly for butterflies”.
This is the most important production of The Importance Of Being Earnest that I have seen. It is bold and modern and beautifully delivered – creating an accessible version of an Oscar Wilde classic, unashamedly full of queer joy.
★★★★★
West End Wilma
The Importance of Being Earnest is playing at London’s Noel Coward Theatre until 10 January 2026
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