Guide Note: Oscar Wilde's The Importance of Being Earnest which is also known as The Importance of Being Earnest: A Trivial Comedy for Serious People focuses on identity confusion. Algernon and his best friend who he thinks is named Earnest, but is also known as Jack both claim to be visiting someone who is sick when they are actually visiting each other. Jack wants to marry Algernon's cousin Gwendolen, but her mother objects and she seems to only loves him as Earnest. When Algernon wants to meet Jack's ward Cecily he also pretends to be Earnest causing confusion to those around them. Finally using deus ex machina it is revealed that Jack's name actually is Earnest.
Fast Facts:
- First performed in 1895
- Published in 1899
- Three and Four Act versions
- Won the only Tony Award ever given to a foreign production
- Takes place during the late Victorian Era
- Original Production had 86 performances
- Wilde's most successful play
- Rare first edition discovered in 2007
- Parodied in the sketch "Viva Variety" with Jim Varney
