SVS: “The Importance of Being Earnest”

Last updated on: January 13, 2015 at 10:56 am by Joseph Susanka

SVS: “The Importance of Being Earnest” 2015-01-13T10:56:14-07:00 Joseph Susanka

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I do not approve of anything that tampers with natural ignorance. Ignorance is like a delecate, exotic fruit. Touch it, and the bloom is gone. The whole theory of modern education is radically unsound. Fortunately in England, at any rate, education produces no effect whatsoever. If it did it would prove a serious threat to the upper classes, and probably lead ot acts of violence in Grosvenor Square.

Over the past few days, a stomach bug has rampaged through the Susanka House with terrifying abandon, leaving me in the mood for something light, yet bitingly (even brutally) sarcastic. In other words, a Trivial Comedy for Serious People is exactly what I need at the moment. Luckily, The Importance of Being Earnest is available from NETFLIX STREAMING, as well as AMAZON($) and YOUTUBE($).

Rupert Everett and Colin Firth star in this adaptation of Oscar Wilde’s play as two gentlemen who use the same pseudonym — with disastrous results.

As the film description above would suggestion, Gwendolen and Cecily aren’t asked to do too terribly much in this production, though I place the blame for that fact less on their various abilities and more on the tremendous amount of fun Firth and Everett are so obviously having.

In related news, it would be perfectly fine with me if Rupert Everett did nothing but Wilde for the rest of his life. They’re a perfect match. (Somewhat paradoxically, despite the fact that this film suggests that Judi Dench and Wilde are just as perfect a fit, I would not be at all satisfied if she did nothing more for the rest of her career.)

It’s been years since I’ve seen Anthony Asquith’s 1952 version, and my recollection is hazy enough that I’m not sure how they compare. The few clips I’ve been able to find in the meantime suggest that it is deeply faithful to Wilde’s words and themes, which means it is also light and bitingly (even brutally) sarcastic. And also, deeply and delightfully British-y. Sadly, though, it is much harder to find.

JACK: How you can sit there calmly eating muffins when we’re in this terrible trouble, I can’t make out! It seems to me to be perfectly heartless…

ALGY: I can hardly eat muffins in an agitated manner, can I? The butter would probably get on my cuffs.

Attribution(s): Publicity images and movie stills are the property of Miramax and other respective production studios and distributors, and are intended for editorial use only.

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