The Importance of Being Earnest at Noel Coward Theatre Review
Written by Philip for Theatre & Tonic
Disclaimer: Gifted tickets in exchange for an honest review
Following a critically acclaimed run at the National Theatre, Max Webster’s dazzling revival of Oscar Wilde’s ‘The Importance of Being Earnest’ arrives in the West End, bursting with colour, wit, and a vibrant queerness that feels both bold and timely.
At its heart, Wilde’s classic farce follows the misadventures of Algernon Moncrieff and his close friend Jack Worthing—two young men who lead double lives in order to escape the tedium of upper-class Victorian respectability. Their romantic pursuits of the fiercely particular Gwendolen Fairfax and the delightfully eccentric Cecily Cardew unravel into chaos when it’s revealed that both women are determined to marry someone named Ernest—a name neither gentleman can truthfully claim. Comedy ensues as relationships are destroyed and rebuilt and secrets are revealed.
Webster’s production leans fully into the play’s subtext, bringing themes of identity, deception, love, and the absurdity of societal conventions into sharp, contemporary focus. Layered with nods to the performative nature of masculinity and queerness, this is Wilde through a modern lens—sharp, slick, and gloriously camp. The injection of topical references lands with precision, and the result is a production that respects the original text while making it feel urgent of the now.
Rae Smith’s set and costume design is nothing short of a triumph. Lavish and imaginative, her vision gives a spirited twist to Victorian aesthetics—vivid, playful, and never gratuitous. It’s a visual feast that complements the production’s exuberant energy perfectly.
Olly Alexander (of Years & Years fame) charms as the irrepressible Algernon—a delightfully flamboyant figure with a perpetual glint of mischief in his eye. Opposite him, Nathan Stewart-Jarrett delivers an endearing Jack, radiating golden retriever energy with boundless charm. Their chemistry is effortless, their timing impeccable. They create absolute mayhem and madness.
Kitty Hawthorne and Jessica Whitehurst are outstanding as Gwendolen and Cecily, delivering standout performances laced with neurotic poise and razor-sharp humour. Their transition from adversaries to allies is played with impeccable comic timing. Together, the quartet form a formidable ensemble, playing off each other with genuine vitality.
Stephen Fry brings delicious dryness to Lady Bracknell, striking a balance between arch authority and comic absurdity. Hugh Dennis and Shobna Gulati also offer charming turns as the Reverend Chasuble and Miss Prism.
But it’s Hayley Carmichael who absolutely steals the show. In a masterclass of physical theatre and comedy, she effortlessly slips into the roles of Lane and Merriman, the respective butlers. With precise movement and impeccable comedic instinct, she brings down the house in every scene she graces. The old saying ‘there are no small parts’ spring to mind as Carmichael shows true dedication and comedy genius.
Webster’s Earnest is a triumphant reinvention: audacious, intelligent, and delightfully theatrical. It elevates Wilde’s “trivial comedy for serious people” into something joyously relevant—an evening of laughter, love, and unapologetic camp that revels in both style and substance.
A thoroughly enjoyable night out in the West End—and a spirited reminder of the enduring importance of being, well, Earnest
The Importance of Being Earnest is playing at the Noel Coward Theatre until 10th January 2026.
★★★★
