The Importance of Being Oscar

"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

#SkipItLA While I enjoyed Richard Abraham’s portrayal of Oscar Wilde, that wasn’t enough for me to enjoy the show as a whole. The Importance of Being Oscar presents Oscar Wilde post-jail in three vignettes where he meets with a colleague, his estranged wife and his fictional character Dorian Gray. These encounters occur in three different years according to the program. However, the direction doesn’t make this clear, leaving the play to feel as if Wilde has one really long emotionally packed afternoon. There are also no breaks for Wilde or the audience. Bad news and poor tidings pile one on top of the other with nothing lighthearted to break them up for even a moment, leaving a depressive cloud over the whole affair. For the full revi... full review