Play Book Tag discussion

The Importance of Being Earnest by Oscar Wilde, 3 stars. I am apparently one of the few people in my generation who had never read this play or seen it performed. I liked the Picture of Dorian Gray, and I thought it was time to read this too. I started to listen to a dramatized recording of the play this month and I didn't like the performance at all. I couldn't quite catch all the dialogue so I didn't find it funny. I think it's much funnier on paper. Some of the humor is dated or silly, but I found enough humor in it to make it worth reading. The underlying story is a bit ridiculous, but the twist was quite entertaining.

I love this play. I haven't read it in many years so can't really remember the details - but I found it very funny and satisfying
Makes me think of Pride and Prejudice and Marriage of Figaro.
Comedy of characters... or something...
Witty and delightful. With great rhythm and to say anything more about it I'll need to read it again.

Never seen it live or listened to it.

I dislike reading plays ... much prefer to see them performed. I've had the good fortune to see this in live performance (and in the film starring Colin Firth).

I actually like An Ideal Husband a bit better.

This is one best seen performed or heard read aloud by actors.
When I was doing a lot of theatre, it was easier to read plays, but now I prefer audio performances.

The Colin Firth film from 2002 is excellent as is the 1952 version with Michael Redgrave and Margaret Rutherford is also good. BUT, the best, absolute best, way to see it is on stage, and I've seen it a couple of times. The Roundabout Theatre Company in NYC has staged it twice in the last 8 years or so and the best, absolute best was with Brian Bedford. There is a video of the full live stage production from 8 years ago out there because the Roundabout showed it in theaters in 2017 to rev up interest in their restaging of it.

I found this play surprisingly easy to read. I was even able to visualize the set. Even though I couldn't catch all the dialogue in the poor quality CD, it did give me a good sense of the pacing, energy and sound of the play. I'll look for the Colin Firth film too.

Theresa wrote: "The Colin Firth film from 2002 is excellent as is the 1952 version with Michael Redgrave and Margaret Rutherford is also good. BUT, the best, absolute best, way to see it is on stage, and I've seen..."

I think I'd watch the old one, then. I have seen the play on stage.

You lucky guys. I never had the chance to see it live. It seems like all they do here is new plays or Shakespeare (not that I mind either - but there’s such a vast 19-20 century catalogue