1. B Y S E U N G H O N G
G R O U P 9 1
The Importance Of Being
Earnest

2. Choosing the script
 Out of the 4 plays to choose from, we chose The Importance of Being Earnest by Oscar Wilde.
 For the play, our group decided to make sure that the play was easy to understand and also
interesting to read.
 In the play, I felt there were aspects of comedy, romance, and tension. Throughout the play I
felt that the comedy and romance kept me interested in the play from beginning to end.
 The play’s setting was set around the late 1800’s and in a wealthy setting.
 The simplicity of the setting makes it easier for us to make the set because the portion of the
play we are performing are located in two locations. One inside a wealthy home and in a
garden.

3. The Cast
Algeron Moncrieff – Ashton Kutcher
 The reason why I chose Ashton Kutcher for the role of Algeron
was because Algeron’s personallity is very silly, sarcastic, and
funny. From Kutcher’s pervious roles I feel that I was able to
see a lot of these characteristics in him. Also, Ashton Kutcher
shows a lot of compassion much like the compassion that
Algeron shows for Cesily.
John Worthing – Leonardo Dicaprio
• The reason why I chose Leonardo Dicaprio for the role of John
Worthing was because I felt that Dicaprio has a lot of experience
and can act out many different types of characters. John Worthing
is a very serious but very outgoing. Worthing is in love with
Gwendolen in the play and I feel that Dicaprio will be able act out
the romance between them because of the role he had in “Titanic”.

4. The Cast Cont’d
Gwendolen Fairfax – Natalie Portman
 I feel that Natalie Portman is the perfect role for Gwendolen because as
I read the play I felt that her character was very well mannered and
could keep her composure. I also felt that her character was a more
mature than the 18 year old Cesily and very beautiful. I feel that Natalie
Portman could perform this character quite well.
Cesily Cardew – Emma Roberts
• Cesily Cardew’s personality I felt was innocent, playful, and ditsy. So
I very much felt that the actress should be a young and beautiful
character that could play her role. Emma Roberts I felt could play this
role very well because she is a very young actress that could relate to her
character.
Lane – Sir Michael Caine
• Even though Lane was not a major character in the play, I felt that he
was very close to his master, Algeron. When I read the play I felt that
the relationship between Algeron and Lane closely resembled Alfred
and Bruce Wayne’s relationship. Considering Michael Caine’s pervious
role in Bat Man I feel that he would fit the role well.

5. The Cast Cont’d
Rev. Canon Chausuble – Morgan Freeman
 Rev Chausuble in the play also had a minor part in the play
but I felt that Morgan Freeman was a nice addition for his
character. Rev. Chausuble throughout the play was a very
educated and insightful man. Morgan Freeman I think will
play this part very well because Freeman is able to act very
small parts but make the audience feel emotions through his
voice and insight.
Lady Bracknell – Cate Blanchett
• For the character Lady Bracknell I felt that the character was
very strict and proper women that followed guidelines, especially
the ones set by society. I felt that Cate Blanchett could be a kind
hearted women toward Gwedolen but then also be strict against the
idea of her marring John.

6. The Cast Cont’d
Miss Prism – Gweneth Paltrow
 For the character Miss Prism I felt was a lady that could be strict
lady when it comes to studies but a compassionate women that
would like walks in the garden.
Merriman Butler – Simon Kunz
• Merriman was the butler in the last couple acts that had to run in
and out of scenes to get jobs done and I found that quite funny as his
only role was to announce someone's arrival or to get a task done
that was never used. Simon Kunz I feel would be able to show the
comedic version of this character.

7. Spine of the Play
 The main action or conflict in the play I felt was the controversy between both couples and
the name Ernest. The name Ernest was so important to Ceslily and Gwendolen that it could
mean the difference between marriage and breakup. Also marriage to these women were so
important that Algeron and John were willing to get baptized under the name Ernest.
 The title of the play was The Importance of Being Earnest is a pun in itself because the title
of the play didn't actually mean a person should be earnest in living but have the name
Ernest.
 In the play I felt that the most important aspect was the comedy within play because it kept
me interested in the play. Also the twisted romance also brought about an interesting twist
to the idea of romance.

8. Theme
 I believe that the play had multiple themes such as money, social society, love, lies and
deceit.
 Throughout the play most of the characters had massive amounts of wealth and
judged the importance of a human being through social class and the amount of
money they had. Examples from the play would be when John was getting questioned
about where he lived, how he earned his money and what his family background was.
This is a major theme because most of the play is about the rich and Gwendolen’s
marriage is high based on wealth and background.
 One of the major themes of the play is love because the play is mostly based on the
main characters Algeron and John falling in love and trying to do almost anything to
make sure they can marry the women they love, even if it means changing their names
and religion. To make sure they could marry the ones they loved they lied about their
names and tried to deceive the women. They were not being earnest.

9. Directorial Concept
 This play is a romantic comedy about the importance of being earnest in life and
having the name Ernest.
 When performing their respective roles, I want the actors and actresses to be able to
include a different aspect of the character that isn’t included necessarily in the play.
 I feel that the stage should a thrust stage because I feel that this type of stage will make
the audience feel more included in the play and also enjoy the comedic effect of the
script.
 Also the costumes in the play I felt should be from around the late 1890’s and from the
upper-class.

10. Set Design

11. Environment
• The Best Ideal Stage would be
the Proscenium.
• This gives the audience a
view that will allow the play
to transition into different
scenes.
• This stage gives the audience
a classy set, given that this
first showed in the late 1800’s

12. Mood & Style
• The late 1800’s falls in the
era known as “The
Victorian.”
• The setting of the home
should make the audience
feel like they’re in the late
1800’s early 1900’s.
• Coming into the house the
audience should have a
soothing feel with the piano
playing in the back along
with cup of warm tea set out

13. Realistic Vs Non-realistic
• We considered “The Importance of
Being Earnest” as a realistic play
because of the costume, dialog and
the environment can make the
audience feel that they can actually
be part of the play if they were living
in that time.

14. Locale and Period
• The time period for late 1800’s – early 1900’s
was called the Victorian Period.
• During this time, there were horses and
carriages for transportation and the option to
walk as well.

15. Design Concept
• The design concept is
very important since the
play has a new scene
every time there is a new
act.
• We feel that the play
inside of the home
consist of a lot of
decorations such as
drapes and vases with
very large chairs to have
that royal feel with

16. Design Concept
Continued..
• We feel that the Garden
of the Manor House, was
the beginning of the
blooming season
because that’s is when
jack realizes that he has
to abandon the double
life and the truth begins
to come out from

17. Central Image
• We believe that the audience should realize
that the play itself is mocking the Victorian era
because it does not relate to love and
romance but a comedy play, however the set
design is displayed as its suppose to be in the
late 1800’s.