The play justifies the tagline ‘A trivial comedy for serious people’ with its mocking paradox, serious people are so because they do not see trivial comedies. Right from the title to the comedy evolving out of the confusion over protagonists’ fictitious personalities to escape the burdensome social obligations, the play caught on audience attention from the word go.
A satire on Victorian ways, the play focuses on the hollowness of the characters, for example Lady Bracknell, who initially disagrees her nephew Algernon getting married to Cecily, finally agrees when she comes to know of her fortune. In the same way, Chasuble, the priest who had taken a vow of celibacy, romances with Miss Prism thereby exposing triviality of relationships.
The play begins in the flat of wealthy Algernon Moncrieff, who is expecting his aunt Lady Bracknell and her daughter Gwendolen Fairfax, to his place. But before they reach, Jack Worthing (a friend of Algernon) arrives. Seeing the guests, he introduces himself as ‘Ernest’. Curious Algernon asks and Jack explains that he assumes the name ‘Ernest’ when he ventures to the city for fun. Algernon confesses that he too employs deception when it is convenient. He visits an imaginary friend, Bunbury, when he needs an excuse to leave the city.
Bunburying became a stratagem used by people who need an excuse for avoiding social obligations in their daily life. Both Algernon and Jack use this method to secretly visit their lovers Cecily and Gwendolen. While most of the English theatre of the time tackled serious social and political issues, this play is superficially about nothing at all.
In Victorian times, earnestness was considered to be the over-riding societal value.
The play repeatedly criticises traditions and social customs, marriage and the pursuit of love in particular.
“One has to understand how Oscar Wilde has employed words to enjoy the comedy. I chose this play for enactment especially for the brilliant word play,” says Geetaa Abraham, the director of the play. “It was a real challenge and the students really rose to it. The play has good humour but not slapstick. It took me weeks to make the actors understand the words,” she adds.
Jerome Jaison of III B.Com who donned the role of Jack Worthing was in his elements. He literally stole the show with his exemplary performance. Steve Babu Matthew playing Algernon was the perfect foil for Jerome. Reby Rajkumari as Lady Bracknell was expressive, especially when she comes to know about Cecily’s fortune and Jack Worthing’s real identity.
Nissy Paulose, the art director did her role to near perfection presenting the Victorian life on stage. The props were eye catching and were supplemented with appropriate lighting. The costume design by Leena Jacob was also appealing. Most of the dialogues were loud and clear making it easy for the audience to understand the play.
“It is not easy to follow Oscar Wilde as his sentences are long compared to modern day short sentences. He uses 17 to 40 words in a sentence. Also he is known for his pithy statements. Though the play was criticised for its explicit lack of social messages, it was the culmination of Wilde's artistic career, for it was one of his last plays. Its high farce and witty dialogue make it popular,” says R. Nedumaran, producer of the play and who acted as the priest Chasuble.
