The Importance of Being Ernest by Oscar Wilde

I liked this play. It's interesting how the humor of this play, written decades ago, still translates to today. I think the most difficult thing for me to do was read it imagining that all the characters were saying each line in complete seriousness. I couldn't do it for some of the lines because they were so ridiculous. Yet, that was Wilde's expectation in the production of the play.

I wonder if it's because of society today that takes nothing seriously and everything is in some way or another ironic that I couldn't read the play seriously.

At any rate, I really enjoyed it. I liked how Lady Bracknell said everything contrary to what was expected of her, yet those ironies were poignant because those things are often implied by high-class society but never explicitly stated. Wilde makes a scathing commentary on the upperclasses but he mixes it in with such ridiculous humor that it's easily missed. It's one of those things where if he were a comedian, he would pause while everyone would go "Ooh, burn!" However, in the play, the flow of the conversation doesn't allow for such reaction and the moment passes.

Brilliant in it's own way and when taking it apart as literature, it becomes even more interesting.

Rather than recommending this play to people though, I'd rather see the production. That's how plays are meant to be enjoyed and I would take a friend or recommend a friend to see the play.