Unfortunately muddled between all this ambition is a slight disconnect from the story.В The focus on the humour and innuendo of the script means that a lot of historical reality and believability are sacrificed.В Wilde is a masterful wordsmith, and to labour his prose risks losing a lot of the subtle meaning.В There is a tendency to throw everything at the wall.В A random tap section along with blocking issues means that the gamble doesnвЂ™t always pay off. This recontextualisation pushes the play back in time around 30 years (1890-1920).В Simon NicholasвЂ™s set is simple but flexible in showing a lush art-deco London apartment and the wisteria-adorned garden of JackвЂ™s country estate in turns.ДЄdam Nichols and Matt StrachanвЂ™s vision is an ambitious one, and we like ambition.В Pushing the rigid tale into the 1920s allows for a freer physicality.В The edition of modern music sung/played live (with varying results) by the cast recalls Baz LehrmanвЂ™s 2013 film The Great Gatsby.В When it works it is rip-roaringly funny.В Lady Bracknell the austere matriarch holding all the power over our heroвЂ™s future matrimony singing Lizzo Blame it on my Juice is one such moment.В Eminem and BeyonceвЂ™s songs explode on the stage, certainly unexpected! In this Wild-ian spin on the mistaken identity trope, good honest Jack Worthing (country esquire) morphs into his hedonistic brother Earnest to galivant around town (London).В When love arrives on the scene the pretence is stretched to the limit with hilarious consequences. Oscar Wilde rightfully seizes the name of wit.В His work is infused with the dark contradictions of the Victorian era as a writer forced to hide a large part of himself.В The importance of being Earnest is a tale of duplicity and a difficult one to get right.ДЄmidst the roman ruins of St AlbanвЂ™s amphitheatre, in what felt like a hurricane of flying ants, The Malting Theatre attempts this most tricksy work. The tale of deception in the upper classes is given a roaring 1920вЂ™s overhaul.В Much like the pace of the jazz age the production races around with frantic energy putting on the Ritz.В In the process losing some shades of meaning.

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