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The Importance of Being Earnest (Dramatized)  By  cover art

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
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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

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What listeners say about The Importance of Being Earnest (Dramatized)

Average customer ratings
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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!

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9 people found this helpful

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    5 out of 5 stars
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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.

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2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

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.

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2 people found this helpful

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    5 out of 5 stars
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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

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

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.

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11 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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A Quite Amusing Play

This is a play full of fun word play and Shakespearean like twists. The full cast really makes this one and it's well worth a listen.

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2 people found this helpful

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    5 out of 5 stars
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Oscar Wilde Speaks to My Heart

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

Yes. It was short and fantastic.

Any additional comments?

I have always loved this play and this audio production was absolutely wonderful. Just splendid.

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1 person found this helpful

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    5 out of 5 stars
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Hilarious

This play had me laughing out loud at several points. Very well acted, especially Emily Bergl as Cecily.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Amazing

this production is an amazing version of this play. I highly recommend it! James Marsters is superb, as is the rest of the cast.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

A classic and funny production.

Classic playwriting and a great performance. A quirky and funny production. I recommend this audiobook.

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