The Importance of Being Earnest → State Theatre Company
Now THIS is how you freshen up a classic! This is how you deliver a work its original author would’ve wished he could see. This, is The Importance of Being Earnest by The State Theatre Company of South Australia, directed by Petra Kalive. Originally written by Oscar Wilde in 1895, The Importance of Being Earnest was Wilde’s final, clever dig at Victorian Society, crafting an infamous work rife with situational irony. Wilde was a Queer artist, and in a homage to what he couldn't explicitly say at the time, Kalive has chosen to ignite Wilde’s original radical sparks. The work is simply placed in a context for modern audiences by gender-bending the roles. And as a result, it becomes a celebration of Wilde’s original intent. Wilde was known to critique the gender binary, and Kalive does this with a sharp statement that all identity is, in fact, a costume. For younger audiences who may be not as familiar with the story, this creative choice is a genius and accessible way ...