February 2004 Student Production

Synopsis

The play revolves around the clever scheming of two friends, Algernon Moncrieff and Jack Worthing, both of whom lead double lives in order to increase their opportunities for pleasure. Jack, who lives in the country, comes to London as often as he can to look after his wicked invented brother Ernest, while Algernon has created an invalid friend called Bunbury, whose constant illnesses allow him to escape family pressures in London. Their deception leads to complications in their romantic lives when they are discovered by Cecily (Jack's ward, whom Algernon is pursuing) and Gwendolyn (Algernon's cousin, whom Jack adores). Looming over everything and everyone is Gwendolyn's mother, Lady Bracknell, a tyrannical figure with plots of her own to hatch. The pursuit of love, sex, money and social position lead all the characters into a series of hilarious entanglements.