Transcript of The Importance of Being Earnest
ACT I. Of the Importance of Being Earnest by Oscar Wilde. A Trivial Comedy for Serious People. The person is in the play. Jack Worthing. Read by caveat. Aldrin and Moncrieff. Read by Rob Marland. Reverend Kennan Chasubal. Read by Algie Pug. Merry Man. Read by Adrian Stevens. Lane. Read by Alan Mapstone. Lady Bracknell. Read by Kelly Taylor. Gwendolin. Read by Elise Dee. Cecily Cardew. Read by Jen Broda. Miss Prism. Read by Tricia Gee. Stage Directions. Read by Mitch. The Scenes of the Play. ACT I. Algernon Moncrieff's Flat in Half Moon Street, Wulton. ACT II. The Garden at the Manor House, Wulton. ACT III. The Drawing Room at the Manor House, Wulton. Time. The Present. First Act. Morning Room in Algernon's Flat in Half Moon Street. The room is luxuriously and artistically furnished. The sound of a piano is heard in the adjoining room. Lane is arranging afternoon tea on the table. And after the music has ceased, Algernon enters. Did you hear what I was playing, Lane? I did not think it polite to listen, sir. I'm sorry for that, for your sake. I don't play accurately. Anyone can play accurately. But I play with wonderful expression. As far as the piano is concerned, sentiment is my forte. I keep science for life. Yes, sir. And speaking of the science of life, have you got the cucumber sandwiches cut for Lady Bracknell? Yes, sir. Lane hands them on a salver. Algernon inspects them, takes two, and sits down on the sofa. Oh, by the way, Lane, I see from your book that on Thursday night, when Lord Shorman and Mr. Whirlane were dining with me, eight bottles of champagne had entered as having been consumed. Yes, sir. Eight bottles and a pint. Why is it that at a bachelor's establishment, the servants invariably drink the champagne? I ask merely for information. I attribute it to the superior quality of the wine, sir. I have often observed that in married households, the champagne is rarely of a first -rate brand. Good heavens! Is marriage so demoralising as that? I believe it is a very pleasant state, sir. I have had very little experience of it myself up to the present. Yes, I have only been married once. That was in consequence of a misunderstanding between myself and a young person. Algernon, languidly. I don't know that I'm much interested in your family life, Lane. No, sir, it's not a very interesting subject. I never think of it myself. Very natural, I am sure. That will do, Lane. Thank you. Thank you, sir. Lane goes out. Lane's views on marriage seem somewhat lax. Really, if the lower orders don't set as a good example, what on earth is the use of them? They seem as a class to have absolutely no sense of moral responsibility. Enter Lane. Mr. Ernest Worthing. Enter Jack. Lane goes out. How are you, my dear Ernest? What brings you up to town? Oh,