"Importance of Being Earnest" Revival

[FOAnatic]

Posted: 4/4/05 at 5:03pm

Playbill.com announces:

"Diana Rigg will be the formidable Lady Bracknell in a new Broadway production of Oscar Wilde's The Importance of Being Earnest in spring 2006, Variety reported.

It will be Rigg's first visit to Broadway since winning the Tony Award for her performance in Medea in 1994. She did, however, play the Brooklyn Academy of Music in 1999 in two works of Racine, Phedre and Britannicus.

As for Wilde's 1895 delectably frivolous comedy of manners, it would mark its first appearance on Broadway in nearly 30 years, although the piece received a significant New York staging at Irish Rep in the late '90s. Daniel Gerroll, Eric Stoltz, Melissa Errico and Nancy Marchand starred in that version."

I am so glad to see this finally come back to Broadway. It is such a remarkable comedy and it has been on the shelf, collecting dust, for far too long. Audiences need to experience this play again and I am so glad to see an upcoming Broadway mounting of it.

For the whole article click the link below.

Diana Rigg to Appear in Broadway Importance of Being Earnest in Spring 2006

Updated On: 4/4/05 at 05:03 PM

[MagicToDo82]

Posted: 4/4/05 at 5:06pm

There was a children's movie when I was growing up, a musical version of Snow White, which was made as part of a series - and Diana Rigg played the Wicked Queen, and she was awesome.

Wow, I loved that series.

And "Earnest" is SUCH a great/funny show. This should be good.

[melissa errico fan]

Posted: 4/4/05 at 5:11pm

My mouth is watering. I adore Diana.

[Gothampc]

Posted: 4/4/05 at 5:12pm

I'm glad to see this show being revived. I saw it a few years ago in London with Patricia Routledge as Bracknell. I LOVE Diana Rigg as an actress, but I wish that she was coming in a star vehicle. I would have loved to see her do Virginia Woolf or Glass Menagerie on Broadway.

Updated On: 4/4/05 at 05:12 PM

[bwaylvr]

Posted: 4/4/05 at 5:22pm

I love this show! Oscar Wilde is one of my fav playwrights! he deserves a revival!! i cant wait to see it! in fact i am reading the play, again, for school. yay i am soo happy! hehe i just really like the play =)

[munkustrap178]

Posted: 4/4/05 at 5:23pm

I love this play, I'm so excited. I didn't even know there was a planned revival...

[melissa errico fan]

Posted: 4/4/05 at 5:25pm

Clive Owen for Algie, Munk?

[MargoChanning]

Posted: 4/4/05 at 5:37pm

One of my favorite plays. Rigg should be a first-rate Bracknell.

[commasplice]

Posted: 4/4/05 at 5:42pm

I love this play! I just read it again a few weeks ago. I'm excited to hear it's being revived.

[sabrelady]

Posted: 4/4/05 at 5:45pm

This will be a delight! I can't wait to hear her say:
"Prism, where is that baby?"

[bwguyhottie]

Posted: 4/4/05 at 5:48pm

i just wrote a paper for my english class on the different women in the play called "Girls Gone Wilde"

[MATheaterLover]

Posted: 4/5/05 at 8:12am

I know some of you will scoff at this, but I went to high school with Olivia Wilde from "The O.C." and performed in several shows with her (she was 2 years ahead of me). When I was a freshman, she performed as Gwendolyn Fairfax in "IOBE" and gave a TERRIFIC performance. If she's as smart as I know she is, she's going to be clawing for this part again.


BTW, the changed her last name to Wilde when she moved out to LA as an homage to that production.

[SueleenGay]

Posted: 4/5/05 at 9:53am

How about Kirsten Dunst for Cecily?

[BobbyBubby]

Posted: 4/5/05 at 10:45am

I hope this isn't some excuse to cast 2nd rate movie stars in a play. Rigg will be amazing, but I just hope she gets a good cast, especially the 4 romantic leads. I'm worried that the temptation will be to cast beautiful young actor's (read: fresh meat) with limited stage experience. I hope they make wise decisions. Kirsten Dunst is a mediocre and often horrible actress, and the thought of her on stage isn't a pleasant one in my opinion,

[SueleenGay]

Posted: 4/5/05 at 11:01am

Bobby, you obviously didn't see Spiderman2 where Kirsten's character does a production of Earnest. I was joking!

[BobbyBubby]

Posted: 4/5/05 at 11:06am

Sueleen...You never know around here. I thought someone was joking once about Idina Menzell playing Rose in Gypsy one day, but it turned out they were dead serious. Oh my.
Updated On: 4/5/05 at 11:06 AM

[kissmycookie]

Posted: 4/5/05 at 11:59am

I missed Dame Diana when she did Medea. I won't miss this!

[robbiej]

Posted: 4/5/05 at 12:13pm

Her work in THE GREAT MUPPET CAPER bodes well for Ms. Rigg's interpretation of Lady Bracknell.

[magruder]

Posted: 4/5/05 at 1:29pm

Wow. 28 years since Earnest has been on Broadway? That's kinda something. And Rigg should be a great Lady Bracknell, although I agree it's odd to have her here in such a supporting role.

[SueleenGay]

Posted: 4/5/05 at 2:06pm

I will be interested to see the rest of the cast. Is Rigg a big enough name or will they try some Rupert Everet/Jude Law type thing?

[Mister Matt]

Posted: 4/5/05 at 2:58pm

I've never seen a production of Ernest that has even come close to the flawless original film version.

[OtherDaryl]

Posted: 4/5/05 at 3:50pm

Bracknell supports nobody in this play. She is, in effect, the major female character. I've seen both Dames, Maggie Smith and Judi Dench soar in the role. Diana Rigg will be wonderful, but I'd rather see Ian McKellan take it on.

[Derech2]

Posted: 4/5/05 at 4:57pm

How awesome! It should go on tour. I'm playing Jack in a school production right now and I've been trying to get ahold of as many tapes and what not to observe as much as I can, but wow! On Broadway! Wonder who the Jack will be ...

This is such a great show. Can't wait to see how it turns out.

[munkustrap178]

Posted: 4/5/05 at 5:10pm

YES, MEF!! Clive Owen for Algie OR Jack!!!!!!!!! Brilliant!

I really hope this is a good production, and they don't try to camp it up.

[Unknown User]

Posted: 4/5/05 at 5:12pm

Robert Sean Leonard as Algernon, please.