THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING EARNEST

Nigel Havers serves very good ham with the cucumber sandwiches and Siân Phillips was born to play Lady B
Sam-Taylor-NEW-176What happens when an ageing am-dram group decides to revive one of their most celebrated productions? The conceit central to Lucy Bailey’s elegant production places ‘The Bunbury Company of Players’ in a play within a play. Toying with Oscar Wilde is never going to make you popular, and some have complained, but then the woman whose recent blood-soaked revival of Titus Andronicus caused members of the audience to faint is quite possibly fearless in the face of criticism. As it turns out, the decision to tinker has resulted in one of the most amusing nights to be had in the West End this season.

Yes, Nigel Havers as the late-middle-aged Richard Oldfield playing Algernon Moncrieff is hammy, but it’s good ham. Martin Jarvis is a delightful counterbalance as Anthony Scottney playing John Worthing.

In case I haven’t made it completely obvious, everyone has two characters, with Cherie Lunghi being made to look maiden-aunty as the Bunbury Players’ fading beauty, Maria, doing her turn as the love-struck Gwendolyn.

William Dudley’s set is a charmer, always a plus for a good night at the theatre, with the action set in the vast, light-filled Arts and Crafts drawing room of the group’s founder, Lavinia Spelman, otherwise known as Lady Bracknell. The decision to cast Siân Phillips was a stroke of genius; you may never want to see another Lady B. Husband George is pressed to play both butlers, Merriman and Lane, and dances admirably with the cucumber sandwiches routine. This being a rehearsal, there are pauses in the delivery, which sound annoying but actually lend it a rather Vicar Of Dibley air.

The Importance Of Being Earnest was first staged in February 1895, only a month after An Ideal Husband, and it’s arguable that Wilde wasn’t very precious about it. After all, it does revolve around the idea that one of his central characters was found in a handbag and lived. And didn’t just live, but ended up inheriting a vast fortune. So why not suspend your disbelief a little further?

Until 20 September at the Harold Pinter Theatre, London SW1: 0844-871 7615, www.atgtickets.com