Nigel Havers and Sian Phillips star in The Bunbury Company of Players’ ‘over 50’s’ production of Oscar Wilde’s much-loved masterpiece The Importance of Being Earnest, from Tues 6 – Sat 10 October at The Lowry.
Star of stage and screen Nigel Havers, known for his BAFTA-nominated role of Lord Andrew Lindsay in the 1981 British film Chariots of Fire and more recently for his portrayal of charming fraudster Lewis in ITV1’s Coronation Street, plays upper class playboy Algernon Moncrieff. Sian Phillips takes the role of Algernon’s aunt Lady Bracknell.
Nigel Havers, said: “This production is very close to my heart and we had a ball doing it in the West End last summer. I’m thrilled we get to do it all again and hope audiences in Salford will laugh and enjoy watching our twist on Oscar’s brilliant play as much as we enjoy performing it.”
The Importance of Being Earnest, directed by Lucy Bailey, delivers an entirely faithful but completely unique setting to one of the greatest theatrical comedies. The production takes on a ‘play within a play’ structure as the Bunbury Company of Players, all of which are now over 50, continue their long-held annual tradition of presenting their favourite comedy.
The cast is completed by by Martin Jarvis and Rosalind Ayers who appeared together in the 1997 film Titanic as Sir Duff Gordon and Lady Duff Gordon; Christine Kavanagh; Nigel Anthony, Carmen du Sautoy and David Shaw-Parker.
The Importance of Being Earnest elegantly lampoons the hypocrisies of Victorian society and opens as two bachelors, the dependable, John Worthing, J.P. (Martin Jarvis) and upper class playboy Algernon Moncrieff (Nigel Havers), feel compelled to create different identities in order to pursue two eligible ladies Cecily Cardew (Christine Kavanagh) and Gwendolyn Fairfax (Carmen du Sautoy). The hilarious misadventures which result from their subterfuge; their brushes with the redoubtable Lady Bracknell (Siân Phillips) and the uptight Miss Prism (Rosalind Ayres) results in a plot that twists and fizzles with some of the finest dialogue to be found in theatre.
Listings Information
The Importance of Being Earnest
Tue 6 – Sat 10 October
Times: 7:30pm. Wed, Thu & Sat 2pm
Tickets: £23 – £30 (including £2 booking fee)
Lyric Theatre
