Review: The Importance of Being Oscar (Park Theatre)

Review by Phil McCullough 

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Oscar Wilde is one of the defining literary figures of the nineteenth century. Though his writing caused controversy in his lifetime, today he is rightly celebrated as a genius. After being imprisoned for ‘gross indecency’ because of a love that dared not speak its name, Wilde became a symbol for the gay community after paying a devastating price simply for loving another man. The Importance of Being Oscar is a one-man show that retells Wilde's life mainly through his own poetry, plays, letters, essays and courtroom statements. Does this production capture the magic of Oscar Wilde's writing and offer a fresh perspective on the life of such an extraordinary man?

The Importance of Being Oscar first premiered in 1960 in Wilde's birthplace of Dublin before transferring to Broadway the following year and touring throughout Europe and North America. It was written and originally performed by Micheál Mac Liammóir, who played Wilde more than 1,300 times. The show became a labour of love, with Liammóir continually refining and developing it until 1975. Today it is widely regarded as one of the greatest solo shows in theatre history.

Liammóir's script is full of wit, character and nuance, capturing the very essence of Oscar Wilde. He skilfully weaves Wilde's biography together with extracts from his plays, poems, essays and letters to create an affectionate portrait of the man behind the legend. If you're already a fan of Wilde's work, the script celebrates many of his finest comic moments while also shining a light on the devastating consequences of his imprisonment for "gross indecency". As someone who knows Wilde's work fairly well, I did feel the opening section was slightly heavy on biography, introducing a number of historical figures in quick succession. However, the production truly comes alive once Alastair Whatley begins performing scenes from Wilde's plays. The second half is both beautiful and heartbreaking as Whatley brings De Profundis, Wilde's emotional letter to Lord Alfred Douglas, vividly to life.

Michael Fentiman's direction is simple but highly effective. As the lights come up, a solitary lamp sits on the floor while Whatley stands towering above it. For a moment he appears larger than life, reflecting the enormous presence Wilde held in Victorian society. At the rear of the stage stands a large oval ring of light that can easily be interpreted as Wilde holding a "mirror up to nature". Throughout the production it becomes a mirror, a doorway into memory and even evokes The Picture of Dorian Gray. During The Ballad of Reading Gaol, a single shaft of light shines down on Whatley, creating the image of Wilde isolated in his prison cell. It is a beautifully simple moment that perfectly captures the loneliness and despair of his imprisonment.

Alastair Whatley delivers a powerhouse performance that completely holds the audience for ninety minutes, capturing Wilde's flamboyance, razor-sharp wit and larger-than-life personality, while also revealing the vulnerability beneath the public persona. The courtroom speech explaining "the love that dare not speak its name" is delivered with genuine emotion and dignity, while the prison scenes reveal a broken man who never truly recovered from his ordeal. Whatley also effortlessly slips into a host of characters from Wilde's plays. His performance of both Jack Worthing and Lady Bracknell during the famous proposal scene from The Importance of Being Earnest is one of the evening's comic highlights. His wonderful delivery of "A handbaaaag?" had the audience in stitches. Playing both roles himself somehow makes the scene even funnier and provides some much-needed lightness before the darker final chapters of Wilde's life.

Barnaby Race's sound design subtly supports the production throughout. The opening music creates a sense of wonder befitting Wilde's extraordinary imagination, while darker atmospheric drones gradually creep in as his life begins to unravel. The shifts in sound never overwhelm the performance but instead gently amplify the emotional journey. The recurring image of the green carnation, long associated with Wilde and the aesthetic movement, is another thoughtful touch that quietly reinforces the themes of identity, individuality and hidden desire.

Overall, I thought this was an excellent production that celebrates both the brilliance and tragedy of Oscar Wilde's life, capturing the sparkle of his wit, the beauty of his writing and the immense sadness of his downfall with equal success. Alastair Whatley delivers a compelling performance that never lets your attention wander and fully does justice to this theatrical classic. If you're already a Wilde admirer, this is essential viewing. If you're new to his work, it's a wonderful introduction to the man behind some of the greatest plays ever written. 

The Importance of Being Oscar runs until 22nd August at Park Theatre. Tickets from: https://allthatdazzles.londontheatredirect.com/play/the-importance-of-being-oscar-tickets

Photos by Marc Brenner