Past Productions

2023

"The Importance of Being Earnest" by Oscar Wilde

Directed by Dan Tappert

Performances:

14.04., 15.04., 20.04. 21.04.2023 at 8 p.m.,

"Kulturforum am Hafen", Buxtehude

The Importance of Being Earnest is the most renowned of Oscar Wilde’s comedies. It’s the story of two bachelors, John ‘Jack’ Worthing and Algernon ‘Algy’ Moncrieff, who create alter egos named Ernest to escape their tiresome lives. They attempt to win the hearts of two women who, conveniently, claim to only love men called Ernest. The pair struggle to keep up with their own stories and become tangled in a tale of deception, disguise and misadventure. The elaborate plot ridicules Victorian sensibilities with some of the best loved, and indeed bizarre characters to be found on the modern stage.

Photographs taken at our premiere on April 14.

Many thanks to Christa Meyer!

Cast of Characters

Jack Worthing (Ernest)	A young gentleman from the country, in love with Gwendolen Fairfax	DanTappert
Algernon Moncrieff	A young gentleman from London, the nephew of Lady Bracknell, in love with Cecily Cardew	Matthias Tismer
Gwendolen Fairfax	A young lady, loved by Jack Worthing	Heike Bergmeyer
Lady Bracknell	A society lady, Gwendolen's mother	Waltraud Hundeshagen
Cecily Cardew	A young lady, the ward of Jack Worthing	Magdalena Drechsel
Miss Prism	Cecily's governess	Inge Stücken
The Reverend Canon Chasuble	The priest of Jack's parish	Jürgen Kotisa
Lane	Algernon's butler	Jürgen Kotisa
Mary	Jack's maid	Annedore Hinck

Directed by Dan Tappert

Many thanks to Katharina Bodmann for the wonderful photographs!

Oscar Fingal O'Flahertie Wills Wilde was an Irish playwright, poet, and author of numerous short stories, and one novel. Known for his biting wit, and a plentitude of aphorisms, he became one of the most successful playwrights of the late Victorian era in London, and one of the greatest celebrities of his day. Several of his plays continue to be widely performed, especially "The Importance of Being Earnest".

As the result of a widely covered series of trials, Wilde suffered a dramatic downfall and was imprisoned for two years hard labour after being convicted of "gross indecency" with other men. After Wilde was released from prison he set sail for Dieppe by the night ferry. He never returned to Ireland or Britain, and died in poverty.