THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING EARNEST***** & QUEEN**** Reviews

Super, very funny production of Oscar Wilde’s play is now on at the Noel Coward Theatre London (booking  until 10 January 2026). Stephen Fry gives a great performance as Lady Bracknell and Olly Alexander is a delightful Algernon alongside a strong cast, with no weak actors amongst them.

pic Marc Brenner 

The play is always delightful to see as the writing is superb and full of Wilde’s brilliant dialogue. This production by director Max Webster brings out all the joy of the author’s play. The difference here is that we are made aware of the ‘queer’ references throughout.

Fry gives us a Lady Bracknell who is never over the top and comes across as a realistic, more human person than we normally see. Two very sweet young men, played by Olly Alexander and Nathan Stewart-Jarrett are well matched by Kitty, Hawthorne and Gwendolyn who want their husband to be called Earnest. There’s a delightful Miss Prism (guilty of leaving the baby in a bag at a mainline station) played by fluttering Shobna Gulati and a nice characterisation by Hugh Dennis as the reverent Canon Chasuble who woos MissPrism. Stealing every scene that he’s in is Hayley Carmichael as the butlers, Lane and Merriman.

If you want to see a well written play beautifully acted with lovely sets and costumes and hilariously funny, book your group in now to see this production.

QUEEN****

AT KING’S PLACE, LONDON 

It was sad not to see Prunella Scales at the special performance of the show put on as a tribute to her husband, Timothy West, who has just died. She was ill and not able to attend.

This revival of the one woman play, which takes us into Queen Victoria‘s private diaries and letters, is moving, humorous, and insightful as we hear the Queen’s own words.  It is performed here by Deborah Findlay as Victoria and features the voice of Prunella Scales. The pianist, Michael Düssek is the accompanist. Lovely music and very interesting words.

This was a one off performance, but it is hoped to present it again in the future. Do grab any opportunity to see it when offered.

Written by CARLIE NEWMAN