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The Importance Of Being Earnest

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About this listen

 Algernon Moncrieff, a bachelor-about-town, has invented an invalid friend called Bunbury in order to get out of tiresome family engagements. At the same time, his friend Jack Worthing has invented a wicked brother called Ernest to disguise his own misdemeanours. When Algernon poses as Ernest to win the heart of Cecily Cardew, confusion reigns, and it takes the discovery of an old black handbag to reveal the truth... Oscar Wilde’s dazzling comedy about mistaken identities and secret engagements still delights audiences over a century after its first performance in 1895. This BBC Radio production, first broadcast in 1977, features Jeremy Clyde as Algernon, Richard Pasco as Worthing, Prunella Scales as Cecily and Maurice Denham as the Rev. Canon Chasuble, and is the first broadcast of the original four-act version of the play. The Classic Radio Theatre range presents notable radio productions of much-loved plays by some of the most renowned playwrights, and starring some of our finest actors. Classics Literature & Fiction Funny
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Had me laughing out loud the entire time. I’ll be listening to it again soon.

Hilarious

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it was such a brilliant story, "a perfectly trivial comedy for perfectly serious people."
a great help with my a level studies, helps me get more familiar with the characters and hear how they're supposed to speak the text in the play.
Brilliant stuff!!

Absolutely loved it, I've listened to this 3 times

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The brilliance of Oscar Wilde has long been celebrated. The delicious wit of the dialogue in his most famous play, is exquisitely brought to life by the first rate cast.

Sublime.

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One of my favourite plays; the story is of course brilliantly written and the dialogue is full of wit and linguistical acrobatics. The tale is hilariously awkward and follows Earnest and Algie trying to lie their way out of every mishap.
This 1977 performance is well cast and produced. Lady Bracknell's pithy put-downs are especially well delivered.
Would definitely recommend.

Trivial comedy at its best

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Oscar Wilde at his very best. A simply wonderful story, dramatised to perfection. Highly recommended.

Tremendous

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