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

"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

The show has a wonderful message and shows how far we have come as a society to break down the social constructs concerning who and how we love another. Playwright Brandie June has quite the knowledge and love for Wilde, which tremendously shines through. Many of Wilde's most popular quotes find themselves nestled into the dialogue to round out a thought. Or just because. The cast is stellar and I particularly enjoyed Cyanne McClarian's heart-crunching performance. Looking forward to see what this team brings next.... 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

A delightful tale told in three linked vignettes centering on a bedraggled, post-prison Oscar Wilde. Brandie June captures Wilde brilliantly in the text, without the homages feeling forced or heavy-handed. And the players, particularly Mr. Abraham, roll these quips and quotes off effortlessly and organically. A lovely piece and ripe for a bit more life in the future. ... full review