The Importance of Being Oscar

Great to learn more about this famous character, and the intimate lives connected to him. Actors do a nice job bringing the issues to life. Dramatizes Wilde's final chapter in a personal way.... full review

A journey into Oscar Wild's mind. Lovely performances and terrific writing.... full review

Poignant and clever—a must see for history buffs and fans of Oscar Wilde! ... full review

Brandie June has considerable talent as a writer and with solid directing this piece satisfies in the ways it wants/needs to. That being said it’s vignette like approach leaves little to the full development of a narrative worthy of Oscar Wilde, with two acts and more focus on the fascinating love triangle presented with the last two scenes, this piece could reach higher levels of the historic fantasy genre so desperately in need of another ‘Genuis writer meets character’ plot line. June is obviously a step ahead of most writers and investing in fleshing this out is a safe bet for the production team. I liked it and am ready to love it. ... full review

Oscar Wilde's life in its own proved epic, enough to inspire many a retelling, which if you added up together might prove longer than Game of Thrones yet still leave so much unexplored! This one act play focuses squarely on the last weeks or months of Wilde's life, and yeah leaves us wanting more. Most good plays do. Like a haiku, it seeks to evoke more than anything else a sense of "might have been." Wilde did not deserve what happened to him, yet in his world, his society, many thought he got off easy with losing his family, income, good name, liberty and health. Immersed as he was in his own time (as who of us is not) that negativity did reach him, and created a fear his works would be forgotten. We know that fear groundless, which ... full review

Very well written and performed. A top-notch hour at the Fringe. The central character portrayed by Richard Abraham had a delightfully droll delivery that fit perfectly with the Wilde aphorisms sprinkled throughout his dialogue, which got a lot of much-deserved laughs. He also communicated the sense of defeat and despair that was hovering over these last few years of Wilde's life. His co-performers were equally strong, especially the fantasized, come-to-life character of Dorian Gray in the last sequence. ... full review

A moving look at the sadder aspects of the life of Oscar Wilde which cleverly highlights the sadness by juxtaposing it with his famous (and endless) witty quips. Really good, natural performances and elegantly unfolding in three parts.... full review

The show is fantastic- well written with rich character work. Good job to everyone involved. It was a magical hour of theater. ... full review

"The Importance of Being Oscar" is literate, funny, interesting and lively. (Author Brandie June deftly uses several of Wilde’s best bon mots, and throws in a few of her own.) It still has some rough edges. But in brief compass, it explores the many difficulties — and discovers the real importance — of being Oscar. ... full review

An admirable attempt, but tries to do too much with too little. Wilde deserves more depth. The playwright needs to dig deeper. Moments of great emotion are briefly touched upon (loss of friendship, family and love) and gone. Trying to touch a lot of bases with insufficient time.... full review