Review: THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING OSCAR at Park Theatre

More than 60 years on, Alastair Whatley's efforts to recreate the one man review at the Park Theatre is clearly a labour of love but proves a mixed, and not entirely satisfactory bag. Part biographical history lesson, part entertaining reflection, the potted tidbits include background details and excerpts from Wilde's more notable plays. They are delivered adequately enough, notably the handbag conversation between Worthing and Lady Bracknell from the great man's most performed play The Importance of Being Earnest.

Where the solo actor might perhaps have benefitted from more studious input from the director Michael Fentiman, would have been with the several poems which are delivered. The first of these is the 1879 ode to celebrated Victorian actress (and mistress to the Prince of Wales, later Edward VII) Lillie Langtry. In "The New Helen", Wilde gives full rein to his pretentious and juvenile adulation, imbuing immature and overtly flowery rhyme to his comparison of Langtry with the face that launched a thousand ships. Unfortunately, from the slightly flat and measured performance, there is little indication that this was an early Wildean gush and consequently we are left to conclude that he barely grew or developed as a creative powerhouse in the poetry stakes. He merely descends into the understandably morose and plaintiff observations of "De Profundis" and "The Ballad of Reading Gaol" much later in the piece. These are delivered in an equally dry manner and only marginally veer towards the wistful, so in some ways lack the necessary profundis.

You cannot fault Whatley's word-perfect recall as he skips between barristers and defendants in the notorious and unjust court action during which Wilde and Alfred Taylor were accused of gross indecency and conspiracy to procure/commit indecent acts. The letters describing the furiously red faced and perpetually angry Marquis of Queensberry (who instigated matters through his infamous accusation of sodomy on an open calling card), are delivered with greater energy and give us a sense of the pride and indignity which Wilde must have felt towards his vulgar assailant.

Overall, this was a jolly pleasant evening spent in the company of a man who has evidently idolised Oscar Wilde from a young age. If comparisons are to be drawn however, Zeb Soanes' one man exposé of Sir Alec Guinness in "Two Halves of Guinness" at this same venue earlier in the year, celebrated its subject with far greater light and shade and more than the occasional twinkle in the eye. Here, the near two hour running time would certainly benefit from greater variety in vocal delivery and pacing — and I feel sure Dear Oscar would heartily approve of a dialling-up of the flamboyance and energy where appropriate to do so.

THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING OSCAR plays 110 minutes including interval, and continues at Park Theatre until 22nd August.

The Importance of Being Oscar Tickets