The National Theatre's 'The Importance of Being Earnest' Will Import in February
Ncuti Gatwa and company in "The Importance of Being Earnest"
(Photo: National Theatre/Marc Brenner)
It's no secret that the booming, vibrant British theater scene is one of the best in the world. But for Anglophiles who don't happen to live in or particularly close to London, it's hard not to feel a bit left out when it comes to seeing the big-name British stars who regularly tread the boards in the West End. Thank goodness for the National Theatre, which periodically films its productions for archival purposes and releases them in cinemas worldwide. Its National Theatre Live program just screened its 100th broadcast last year (Michael Sheen in Nye), and its at-home streaming service, which allows subscribers to watch both new and classic performances featuring actors ranging from Helen Mirren (Phaedra) to Benedict Cumberbatch (Frankenstein), is more popular than ever.
National Theatre Live's next offering will arrive in theaters this February, and it's one of the program's biggest and buzziest yet: The Importance of Being Earnest. The adaptation of the Oscar Wilde classic is currently playing to sold-out crowds in London and has won raves for its colorful staging, chaotically camp vibes, and dedication to really leaning into the story's queer energy. And, I mean, it's Wilde, so there's a lot of queer energy baked in already, but director Max Webster cranks it all up to eleven.
The Importance of Being Earnest follows the story of two wisecracking bachelors who get into insanely complicated schemes together, involving everything from using fake identities to inventing nonexistent friends to impress women. Or at least maintain the facade of being interested in women. Your mileage will likely vary on that point, depending on which production you're watching. (In this one, the women seem to be more into each other than their potential suitors.)
Here’s the National Theatre’s synopsis.
While assuming the role of a dutiful guardian in the country, Jack lets loose in town under a false identity. Meanwhile, his friend Algy adopts a similar facade. Hoping to impress two eligible ladies, the gentlemen find themselves caught in a web of lies they must carefully navigate.
Fifteenth Doctor Ncuti Gatwa (Doctor Who) stars as Algernon Moncrief opposite Hugh Skinner’s (The Witcher) Jack Worthing. The duo is joined by Sharon D. Clarke (Inspector Ellis) as the indomitable Lady Bracknell, Ronkẹ Adékọluẹ́jọ́ (Rain Dogs) as her daughter Gwendolen Fairfax, and Eliza Scanlen (Dope Girls) as Jack’s ward Cecily Cardew. Julian Bleach (The English) plays both Lane and Merriman, Richard Cant (It’s A Sin) is Reverend Canon Chasuble, and Amanda Lawrence (The Devil’s Hour) is Miss Prism.
The staging features Rae Smith’s set and costume design, Jon Clark’s lighting design, Nicola T. Chang’s sound design, DJ Walde’s music, Adele Brandman’s hair and makeup design, and Carrie-Anne Ingrouille’s movement direction.
The Importance of Being Earnest is playing at the National Theatre’s Lyttelton Theatre through January 25 and will be released in cinemas globally via National Theatre Live. Find your nearest screening on the NT Live website.
