July 25 - October 20, 2024

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BY OSCAR WILDE

“The very essence of romance is uncertainty.” – Oscar Wilde

Oscar Wilde’s brilliant and wicked The Importance of Being Earnest, is a comedic masterpiece that unravels a web of mistaken identities, romantic entanglements, and clever deceptions. When two young gentlemen decide to adopt fictitious personas to escape the constraints of societal expectations, a whirlwind of hilarious misunderstandings ensues. As love interests collide and secret pasts are revealed, Wilde weaves a delightful tapestry of wit, absurdity, and biting satire.

Don your finest apparel and join us at the Blackfriars Playhouse for an exquisite evening of uproarious laughter as a cast of charming characters, directed by José Zayas, navigate a world where triviality and earnest pursuits take center stage. And don’t forget the cucumber sandwiches!

Run time: approx. 2.5 hours, including two 10-minute intermissions

Age requirement: 7 and up (read full policies here)

Read more about our Staging Conditions and Casting Practices here.

Craving cucumber sandwiches? Stop by Accordia (114 E Beverley St in Staunton, VA) for themed sips and snacks before the show! Try their Coates & Seely champagne imported directly from the UK, the perfect pairing with an evening of Oscar Wilde.

Learn More About the Show

Stuff That Happens
  • At his flat in London, Algernon Moncrieff prepares for the arrival of his aunt, Lady Augusta Bracknell, and her daughter, Gwendolen Fairfax.
  • Algernon’s friend Mr. Worthing arrives unexpectedly. Mr. Worthing is in love with Gwendolen.
  • Algernon is quite surprised to discover that his friend’s name is not actually Ernest, but Jack.
  • Algernon tells Jack about “Bunburying,” a ruse he invented for escaping tedious social functions in London.
  • Lady Bracknell and Gwendolen arrive. Jack (as Ernest) proposes to Gwendolen.
  • Lady Bracknell interviews Jack to ascertain his eligibility as a suitor to her daughter. Lady Bracknell is alarmed about Jack’s unknown parentage.
  • In the garden of Jack’s country house, his young ward, Cecily Cardew, and her governess, Miss Prism, discuss the need to reform Jack’s wayward brother ‘Ernest.’
  • Algernon and Jack meet in the garden, under surprising circumstances.
  • Gwendolen and Cecily meet in the garden, under equally surprising circumstances.
  • In the morning room of Jack’s country house, revelations, confessions, engagements, and earnest trivialities ensue…
Music Setlist

Be sure to arrive a little early to enjoy pre-show music performed by the cast. Music will also be performed during the show’s intermissions.

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