The Importance of Being Earnest - Oscar Wilde
2009-2010

Jack Worthing lives in the country and pretends to have a brother in London, called Ernest, so he has a perfect excuse to slip away to the city. Jacks friend Algernon has created an imaginary friend called Bunbury, so that he too has a reason for escaping the tedium of his own social life in London. Problems arise when Jack falls in love with Gwendolyn and Algernon falls in love with Cecily, even though both young women feel that they can only marry a man whose name is Earnest. Added to which there is Gwendolyn’s tyrannical mother Lady Bracknell, who refuses to allow Jack to marry Gwendolyn when she discovers that as a baby he was discovered lying in a handbag, left at a railway station. First performed at the St. James Theatre London on February 14 1895, this comedy of manners is the most famous of Oscar Wilde’s works for the theatre. It is a masterpiece of truth about class and gender disguised as an airy trifle.

Tour de Force Theatre presents this wonderful play in its own unique style, in which comical physical theatre and visual humour match the wit already present in the text. Live music too adds a fresh and contemporary touch to the production, which can be seen in cities around Europe throughout the autumn of 2008.

Tour De Force last produced The Importance of Being Earnest in 2002 and it was a great success.

"Outstanding acting achievements were rewarded by the Trier public with thunderous applause and a standing ovation." ( Trierischer Volksfreund )

Directed by Peter Joucla, this production we hope will not disappoint.

Paul ShelfordJack
Joseph MacnabAlgernon
Emily BowmanGwendolen/Miss Prism
Arina IiCecily
Sarah FiniganLady Bracknell/Merriman
Peter JouclaDirection/Musical direction
Rebecca Crofton-AtkinsCostumes & Design
Loretta LipworthAssistant designer
Loretta LipworthStage management
Neil RoeSet construction
Pippa TooherPAdministration
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