Review: THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING OSCAR at Park Theatre

Date: 27/07/26

Stars: 3

For many people, Oscar Wilde is the sum of his greatest quotations. We know the epigrams, we know The Importance of Being Earnest, and we know, broadly speaking, how his life ended. The Importance of Being Oscar sets out to bridge the gap between the public figure and the man behind the legend, using Wilde’s own words to tell the story.

Micheál Mac Liammóir’s celebrated one-man play draws together extracts from Wilde’s plays, letters, poetry and courtroom speeches, creating something that’s part biography, part performance and part celebration of one of literature’s sharpest minds. Rather than rushing through the major events of Wilde’s life, the production allows his own writing to shape the narrative, trusting the audience to connect the dots.

That approach relies almost entirely on Alastair Whatley, who rarely puts a foot wrong. Spending more than two hours alone on stage is a daunting task, but he delivers Wilde’s wit with effortless charm while gradually revealing the vulnerability beneath the polished exterior. It’s a measured performance that avoids slipping into impression or parody, instead presenting Wilde as a man who used humour as both entertainment and self-defence.

Michael Fentiman’s production wisely keeps the staging understated. Madeleine Girling’s elegant set, together with Ben Jacobs’ lighting and Barnaby Race’s sound design, creates an intimate atmosphere without distracting from the text, and the simplicity suits the material, allowing Wilde’s words to remain firmly at the heart of the evening.

The production’s biggest challenge is the script itself. While Wilde’s observations remain as funny and insightful as ever, the structure can feel episodic, moving from one extract to another without always building dramatic momentum. There are moments where it begins to resemble a literary recital rather than a piece of theatre, and the running time occasionally feels its full length as a result.

Even so, there’s something undeniably moving about hearing Wilde’s most famous words placed alongside the events that shaped his life. Familiar lines take on new meaning when viewed through the lens of his downfall, and the final sections carry a quiet poignancy that lingers after the curtain call.

The Importance of Being Oscar may not fully escape the feeling of being a theatrical biography, but Alastair Whatley’s assured performance gives it warmth, dignity, and humanity throughout. Admirers of Wilde’s writing will find much to enjoy, even if those looking for a more dynamic piece of theatre may leave wishing the production had taken greater dramatic risks.

The Importance of Being Oscar plays at Park Theatre until 22nd August, and tickets are available here: https://parktheatre.co.uk/events/the-importance-of-being-oscar/