In The Importance of Being Earnest, while assuming the role of dutiful guardian in the country, Jack lets loose in town under a false identity. Meanwhile, his friend Algy takes on a similar façade. 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.

Last night, my husband and I took a trip to London to watch a show. It wasn’t our usual musical, this time it was The Importance of Being Earnest written by Oscar Wilde and being performed at the Noël Coward Theatre.

After dinner at Mother Mash (see my review), which is literally around the corner from the theatre, we were ready to watch the show.

I studied The Importance of Being Earnest for my O’Level English Literature exam, yes I know that makes me old, along with The Merchant of Venice and To Kill A Mockingbird. I am ashamed to say that all I could remember was it had something to do with a handbag and a baby being left at a station cloakroom….

The cast was the main reason we decided to watch this play which included Stephen Fry, Olly Alexander, Hugh Dennis, Shobna Gulati, Nathan Stewart-Jarrett, Kitty Hawthorne and Jessica Whitehurst.

Of course, Stephen Fry stole every scene he was in as Lady Bracknell and her witty, dry one-liners were delivered with precision and wonderful comic timing.

But the remaining cast more than held their own in this play, from Olly Alexander as Algernon and Nathan Stewart-Jarrett as Jack, their chemistry was undeniable and they acted their socks off.

But my favourite were Gwendoline and Cecily, Kitty Hawthorne and Jessica Whitehurst, their range of facial expressions, the different tones to their voices when angry or excited was a joy to witness. One scene when they were arguing with each other, they had trouble controlling their giggles which delighted the audience.

The cast stuck to the original story of Oscar Wilde, who I have to say was way ahead of his time with his comedy, both physical and verbal, but modern touches were also added like Olly playing a pop song on the piano.

Our only disappointment on the night was that Hugh Dennis didn’t appear as the Reverend…

Overall, a thoroughly delightful show, a superb cast and a fabulous theatre. I would definitely recommend it, though you will have to be quick as its run ends on 10th January, 2026.