Oscar Wilde is the best. Okay, so everyone already knew that. But who knows what his best work is? Okay, I think I heard someone say "The Importance of Being Earnest." Maybe...
Anyhow, "Earnest" kicks tail feather. The play is about halfway between Jane Austen and Monty Python. But not too much like either. In addition to a ridiculous situation, the story is characterized by marvelous wordplay and terrific timing. And the 2002 movie uses a decent amount of slapstick (but _highbrow_ slapstick. Like a P.D.Q. Bach song). On the other hand, the story is based around the idea that 19th century society is terribly silly. And a good amount of tea is consumed.
TIoBE is about a couple of smart-alecy men who go a courtin' (NOT with a megaphone... ;^) ) and attempt to win the affections of a couple of silly, superficial girls who, by today's standards, are a bit on the youngish side. And they would probably wear those stupid shirts from designer stores like Abercrombie and Fitch that say something along the lines of "Cokie's Seaside Bar and Grill: Wi Kiki, Hawaii" and have a mermaid on them (why do people wear those? I mean, I could see if they had gone to a place called "Cokie's Seaside Bar and Grill" in Hawaii and bought the shirt, but no, they went to Abercrombie and Fitch and bought it And there probably isn't even a Cokie's Seaside Bar and Grill in Hawaii, and that's not how you spell Waikiki! Which just goes to show that 20th/21st century society is just as silly as 19th). Throw in an elderly schoolteacher pursuing an elderly priest, a rather evil old bat (who truly is the play...) , and a few muffins, and you've got yourself marvelous entertainment.
Our heroes are John Worthing, a devious upper-class country mouse with a smart mouth and a rather unusually pretty ward who's only just 18, and Algernon Moncreif, a more devious upper-class city mouse with a smarter mouth and a rather unusually over-developed interest in pretty young women. In the 2002 film, Colin Firth and Rupert Everett make marvelous Jack and Algy's. And though I have never seen either version, Paul McGann was apparently Jack in a TV movie in 1986, and Samuel West played (surprise!) Algy during the winter of '93/'94 at The Royal Exchange.
I watched this movie for the first time when Lily brought it over one afternoon. We would have seen it in theaters, but the same bloody stupid people who wouldn't show EQ wouldn't show Earnest. But, it's their loss, because they didn't get my $8 (which is a ridiculous amount of money for a movie ticket) AND I own it now. I watch it A LOT. And I never tire of it.
Page written July 25, 2003.
