Having seen several of Oscar Wilde’s plays over the years, as well as reading his only novel, The Picture of Dorian Gray, I eagerly anticipated The Importance of Being Oscar at the Park Theatre. Originally written and performed by Micheál Mac Liammóir in 1964, this remarkable one-man play is both a celebration of Wilde’s extraordinary literary genius and a poignant reflection on the devastating personal cost of Victorian prejudice.
As the excellent programme notes point out, there is a striking symmetry between Wilde and Mac Liammóir. Like Wilde, Mac Liammóir was both Irish and gay, and it is particularly significant that he created this deeply personal tribute some 30 years before homosexuality was decriminalised in Ireland. That historical context lends the production an added layer of poignancy and courage.
Directed with remarkable sensitivity by Mike Fentiman, this revival allows Wilde’s story to unfold with elegance and emotional clarity. The production charts the playwright’s meteoric rise to fame, his glittering wit and social success, before exposing the cruel injustice of his downfall. Wilde died in exile in Paris at the tragically young age of just 46, and the play never shies away from portraying the inhumane treatment he endured during the final years of his life.
Alastair Whatley delivers a mesmerising solo performance, seamlessly portraying Wilde alongside the many figures who shaped his life. His character transitions are effortless, and his command of both Wilde’s sparkling wit and his heartbreaking vulnerability is extraordinary. Holding an audience’s attention alone on stage for nearly two hours is no small feat, yet Whatley remains utterly compelling from beginning to end.
The production benefits enormously from its minimalist staging. With little in the way of elaborate scenery, the audience’s attention is drawn entirely to the words and performance. Ben Jacobs’ lighting design plays a crucial role in creating atmosphere and subtly guiding the emotional journey, proving that simplicity can often be the most powerful theatrical choice.
Throughout the evening, we are treated to many of Wilde’s most celebrated aphorisms and carefully selected extracts from his plays, beautifully interwoven with Mac Liammóir’s script. These familiar passages serve not merely as reminders of Wilde’s brilliance but as poignant reflections of the events unfolding in his own life.
The play also explores aspects of Wilde’s personal life that are perhaps less familiar. We learn of his admiration for the celebrated actress and socialite Lily Langtry, his marriage to Constance, and their two sons. Particularly moving is the account of his imprisonment, which not only destroyed his career but also separated him from his family. Following his conviction, he was denied contact with his children and, heartbreakingly, never saw Constance again before her death. These moments provide some of the production’s greatest emotional impact, revealing the profound human tragedy behind one of literature’s greatest figures.
The Importance of Being Oscar is far more than a biographical account; it is a moving tribute to an extraordinary writer whose wit, intellect and humanity continue to resonate today. It reminds us not only of Wilde’s literary achievements but also of the terrible consequences of intolerance and injustice.
Whether you are already an admirer of Oscar Wilde or know very little about his life and work, this production is an unforgettable theatrical experience. Long-time Wilde enthusiasts will relish every beautifully delivered quotation, while newcomers will leave with a deeper appreciation of the man behind the masterpieces. Thought-provoking, deeply moving and magnificently performed, The Importance of Being Oscar is theatre at its most intimate and affecting.
Review by Bernadette Lintunen
‘Oscar Wilde was a dandy of speech, a dandy of manner, a dandy of dress, and a dandy, even, of ideas and intellect’. He fell in love with eccentric socialites, travelled to America with nothing to declare ‘except his genius’, and found worldwide success as a playwright. The Importance of Being Oscar immerses audiences in a compelling journey through the loves and losses, successes and struggles of the man, telling the story of how his life of fame, glamour, and romance led him to become an imprisoned outcast and ultimately to die penniless in a Parisian Hotel complaining of the wallpaper, ‘One of us had to go…’
CAST
Alastair Whatley – Oscar Wilde
CREATIVES
Micheál Mac Liammóir – Writer
Michael Fentiman – Director
Madeleine Girling – Designer
Ben Jacob – LX Designer
Barnaby Race – Sound Designer
THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING OSCAR
Park Theatre
22 July to 22 August 2026
