I’m a little embarrassed how long it took me to read any of Oscar Wilde’s play’s. It’s hard to choose a favorite, but The Importance of Being Earnest is mine. Perhaps the best loved, of Wilde’s well loved plays. I am, according to my father, a sarcastic, sassy pants. (I’m paraphrasing, smart ass, he says I’m a smart ass.) It’s the sassy pants characters that make this a favorite.

This is a weekend I’m working, so I’m bringing along some of my favorite plays to break up the day.

The Importance of Being Earnest is my favorite of Oscar Wilde’s plays. I had to a hard time keeping from disturbing the other tables with my laughing. The play centers around two young men scraping against the strictures of Victorian society. Each takes on the mantle of Earnest neither for particularly earnest, or honest reasons. In the end they discovering that Earnest brings it’s own intrinsic value. We all know that a woman wants an earnest love.

If you don’t like satire, or haven’t explored the intricacies of Victorian Society this play is only a string of bizarre behavior, and increasingly irritating characters. However, The Importance of Being Earnest is a searing indictment of Victorian high society. It’s hilarious, and because it’s also Oscar Wilde there is truly beautiful writing. My favorite is: