The Importance of Being Earnest (Dramatized)

By: Oscar Wilde

Narrated by: James Marsters, Charles Busch, Emily Bergl, Neil Dickson, Jill Gascoine, Christopher Neame, Matthew Wolf

Length: 1 hr and 58 mins

Publisher's summary

This final play from the pen of Oscar Wilde is a stylish send-up of Victorian courtship and manners, complete with assumed names, mistaken lovers, and a lost handbag. Jack and Algernon are best friends, both wooing ladies who think their names are Ernest, "that name which inspires absolute confidence". Wilde's effervescent wit, scathing social satire, and high farce make this one of the most cherished plays in the English language.

Includes an interview with director Michael Hackett, professor of Theater in the School of Theater, Film and Television at UCLA.

An L.A. Theatre Works full cast performance featuring:
James Marsters as Jack
Charles Busch as Lady Bracknell
Emily Bergl as Cecily
Neil Dickson as Lane and Merriman
Jill Gascoine as Miss Prism
Christopher Neame as Chasuble
Matthew Wolf as Algernon
Sarah Zimmerman as Gwendolen

Directed by Michael Hackett. Recorded before a live audience at the Skirball Cultural Center, Los Angeles.

©2009 L.A. Theatre Works (P)2009 L.A. Theatre Works

Delightful, Hysterical and Entertaining!

Would you listen to The Importance of Being Earnest (Dramatized) again? Why?

I intend on listening to this again because the actors reading each part are absolutely perfect in their performance. The story is a clever, screwball comedy. The language is beautiful. This masterpiece is Oscar Wilde's final work.

What did you like best about this story?

The clever language, the fast moving story.

What does the narrators bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

The tone of voice, the emphasis of certain words.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

It made me giggle and smile!

Any additional comments?

I would recommend this for educators, as well as those who want to share their love of theatre to their friends and children.

I've been spoiled by the movie

It's wonderful Wilde, but I felt the dialog was rushed. I did like the info at the end about Wilde. Thanks.

Brilliant!!

I was actually unsure whether to buy this or not, as I was worried that, being recorded at a real theatrical performance, the lack of any kind of description of the scenes and actions would make it difficult to follow, and consequently render it less enjoyable.
I had no reason to worry. The quality of the sound is very good, and the actors are really great, so you can recognize the different characters with no problem. And fortunately the conversations alone let you easily understand where the action is taking place and what is happening.
As for the rest, there is very little to say:
I won't even try to review the story, it's just too great (and witty, and silly, and funny, and brilliant, and a lot of other similar adjectives) for words.
The quality of the sound is very good.
The actors impersonate the various characters perfectly, and hearing this play actually acted out is infinitely better than just reading it (after all, this is the way it was meant to be enjoyed). I already knew the story well (it's one of my favorite books) but hearing it this way still made me laugh out loud!!!

Hilarious. Well acted.

It was great 100 years ago, and its great now. I love this play more every time I read/see/hear it. The acting in this version is spot on. This was very enjoyable. I bought it so that I could share my love of this play with a friend while on a road trip. She loved it.

Love, Love, Love!

Any additional comments?

This is one of my favorite works by Oscar Wilde. I have seen the old and newer movies and read it. Listening to this dramatization was an awesome experience. The players were spot on! I could see what was happening as I was listening. Would suggest this to anyone!!

What fun!

I love this cast of actors! I could totally see the play happening in my imagination; what a well-done piece of drama. I can't wait to play this for my students to show them how entertaining drama, even older pieces of drama, can be!

Brilliant and hilarious

Any additional comments?

A must read for anyone with a refined sense of humor.

This is an audio recording of the play with a live audience, so that really added to the flavor.

Fuuuuuunny!

This dramatization is excellently done and hilarious! Why not get this classic? The 15 minutes of commentary at the end was worth a lot also. It enlightened the play. It was easily listened to at 1.5X speed. Hope this helps. Later.

That was amazing

I did not know it was that funny. The performance, the story the wit, everything about this production is great. Just buy it

I laughed so hard I cried.

Where does The Importance of Being Earnest (Dramatized) rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

Very high on the funny list of audiobooks I've listened to.

Who was your favorite character and why?

Jack is more

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Yes.

Any additional comments?

The scene in Jack's garden with the two brothers eating muffins kept getting funnier as it went along. I was crying so hard I had to pause twice to get a Kleenex. This play reminds me so much of not only Monty Python, but the banter between the brothers, Niles and Fraiser Crane.