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The Importance Of Being Earnest
''The Importance of Being Earnest, a Trivial Comedy for Serious People'' is a play by Oscar Wilde, the last of his four drawing-room plays, following ''Lady Windermere's Fan'' (1892), ''A Woman of No Importance'' (1893) and ''An Ideal Husband'' (1895). First performed on 14 February 1895 at the St James's Theatre in London, it is a Farce, farcical comedy depicting the tangled affairs of two young wikt:man about town, men about town who lead double lives to evade unwanted social obligations, both assuming the name Ernest while wooing the two young women of their affections. The play, celebrated for its wit and repartee, parodies contemporary dramatic norms, gently satirises late Victorian era, Victorian manners, and introduces – in addition to the two pairs of young lovers – the formidable Lady Bracknell, the fussy governess Miss Prism and the benign and scholarly Canon (title)#Church of England, Canon Chasuble. Contemporary reviews in Britain and overseas praised the play ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Allan Aynesworth
Edward Henry Abbot-Anderson (14 April 1864, Sandhurst, Berkshire – 22 August 1959, Camberley, Surrey), known professionally as Allan Aynesworth, was an English actor and producer. His career spanned more than six decades, from 1887 to 1949, and included the role of Algernon Moncrieff in the 1895 premiere of Oscar Wilde's ''The Importance of Being Earnest''. Aynesworth generally appeared in drawing room comedy and contemporary high-society dramas, usually avoiding old classics and modern plays about social problems. He retired from the stage in 1938, and made his final acting appearance in the film ''The Last Days of Dolwyn'' in 1949. Life and career Early years Aynesworth was born at the Royal Military College, Sandhurst, the third son of Major-General Edward Abbot-Anderson and his first wife, Martha, ''née'' Birkett, who died the day after Aynesworth was born. The eldest son, John Henry, followed his father into the army, and rose to be a Brigadier-General; the middle s ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Lord Alfred Douglas
Lord Alfred Bruce Douglas (22 October 1870 – 20 March 1945), also known as Bosie Douglas, was an English poet and journalist, and a lover of Oscar Wilde. At Oxford University he edited an undergraduate journal, ''The Spirit Lamp'', that carried a homoeroticism, homoerotic subtext, and met Wilde, starting a close but stormy relationship. Douglas's father, John Douglas, 9th Marquess of Queensberry, abhorred it and set out to humiliate Wilde, publicly accusing him of homosexuality. Wilde sued him for criminal libel, but Quensberry produced witnesses who attested to the truth of his claim, and Wilde was later imprisoned. On his release, he briefly lived with Douglas in Naples, but they had separated by the time Wilde died in 1900. Douglas married a poet, Olive Custance, in 1902 and had a son, Raymond. On converting to Catholicism in 1911, he repudiated homosexuality, and in a Catholic magazine, ''Plain English'', expressed openly antisemitic views, but rejected the policies of Na ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Ward (law)
In law, a ward is a minor or incapacitated adult placed under the protection of a legal guardian or government entity, such as a court. Such a person may be referenced as a "ward of the court". Overview The wardship jurisdiction is an ancient jurisdiction derived from the British Crown's duty as '' parens patriae'' ("parent of the nation") to protect his or her subjects, and particularly those unable to look after themselves. In the United Kingdom and other Commonwealth realms, the monarch as ''parens patriae'' is parent for all the children in their realms, who, if a judge so determines, can become wards of court. However, the House of Lords, in the case of ''Re F (Mental Patient: Sterilisation)'', held that the monarch has no ''parens patriae'' jurisdiction with regard to mentally disabled adults. A court may take responsibility for the legal protection of an incapacitated person as well a minor, and the ward is known as a ward of the court or a ward of the state. In Australia, ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Half Moon Street, London
Half Moon Street is a street in the City of Westminster, London. The street runs from Curzon Street in the north to Piccadilly in the south. History Half Moon Street was built from 1730. It takes its name from a public house that once stood on the corner with Piccadilly."Half Moon Street, W1." in Notable inhabitants James Boswell, biographer of Dr Johnson, had lodgings in the street in 1768 at the home of Mr Russell, an upholsterer. Lola Montez, mistress of King Ludwig I of Bavaria, lived in the street in 1849. The street was known for its genteel lodgings and apartments which was still the case when Somerset Maugham visited in 1930. The WWI poet Siegfried Sassoon had lodgings in 14 Half Moon Street. In the 20th century, Sax Rohmer (1883–1959), creator of Dr Fu Manchu, once lived in the street. A blue plaque marks the spot. Buildings Among the listed buildings in the street are parts of Flemings Mayfair Hotel and Green Park Hotel. Other listed buildings include numb ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Oliver Parker
Oliver Parker (born 6 September 1960) is a British film director, screenwriter, and former actor. He is known for writing and directing the film adaptations of Shakespeare's ''Othello (1995 film), Othello'' (1995) and Oscar Wilde, Wilde's ''The Importance of Being Earnest (2002 film), The Importance of Being Earnest'' (2002), and for his role as Peloquin in the cult film ''Nightbreed'' (1990). Biography Parker was born in Plymouth, the second of three sons of Jillian, Lady Parker, a writer and GP (general practitioner), and Peter Parker (British businessman), Sir Peter Parker, formerly chairman of British Rail. His brothers include the public relations executive Sir Alan Parker (born 1956) and the actor Nathaniel Parker (born 1962). They also have a sister, Lucy. Filmography Films and Television Television (as actor) *''Matlock (1986 TV series), Matlock'' (1 episode, 1987) – Man at Butler's School *''The Bill'' (1 episode, 1989) - Glen Phelps *''Agatha Christie's Poirot'' ( ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Anthony Asquith
Anthony Asquith (; 9 November 1902 – 20 February 1968) was an English film director. He collaborated successfully with playwright Terence Rattigan on ''The Winslow Boy'' (1948) and '' The Browning Version'' (1951), among other adaptations. His other notable films include '' Pygmalion'' (1938), ''French Without Tears'' (1940), '' The Way to the Stars'' (1945) and a 1952 adaptation of Oscar Wilde's ''The Importance of Being Earnest''. Life and career Born in London, he was the son of H. H. Asquith, the Prime Minister from 1908 to 1916, and Margot Asquith, who was responsible for 'Puffin' as his family nickname.Anthony Asquith biography at BFI Screenonline He was educated at Eaton Ho ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Judi Dench
Dame Judith Olivia Dench (born 9 December 1934) is an English actress. Widely considered one of Britain's greatest actors, she is noted for her versatility, having appeared in films and television, as well as for her numerous roles on the stage. Dench has garnered List of awards and nominations received by Judi Dench, various accolades throughout a career that spans seven decades, including an Academy Award, a Tony Award, two Golden Globe Awards, four British Academy Television Awards, six British Academy Film Awards, and seven Olivier Awards. Dench made her professional debut in 1957 with the Old Vic Company. Over the following few years she performed in several of Shakespeare's plays, in such roles as Ophelia in ''Hamlet'', Juliet in ''Romeo and Juliet'' and Lady Macbeth in ''Macbeth''. Although most of Dench's work during this period was in theatre, she also branched out into film work and won a BAFTA Film Award for Newcomer to Leading Film Roles, BAFTA Award as Most Promisin ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Nigel Havers
Nigel Allan Havers (born 6 November 1951) is an English actor and presenter. His film roles include Lord Andrew Lindsay in the 1981 British film ''Chariots of Fire'', which earned him a BAFTA nomination; as Dr. Rawlins in the 1987 Steven Spielberg war drama '' Empire of the Sun''; and as Ronny in the 1984 David Lean epic '' A Passage to India''. Television roles include Tom Latimer in the British TV comedy series '' Don't Wait Up'' and Lewis Archer in ''Coronation Street'', between 2009 and 2019. Early life and family Havers was born in Edmonton, Middlesex, and is the younger of two sons of Sir Michael Havers (later Lord Havers), a barrister who served as the Attorney General for England and Wales and, briefly, Lord Chancellor in the Conservative Government in the 1980s. His mother is Carol Lay, who is an author.https://www.thegenealogist.co.uk/featuredarticles/2013/who-do-you-think-you-are/nigel-havers-10/ His paternal aunt, Lady Butler-Sloss, his grandfather Sir Cecil Have ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Martin Jarvis (actor)
Martin Jarvis OBE (born 4 August 1941) is an English actor. Described by the BBC as "one of Britain's most distinguished and versatile actors", he has had a varied career in theatre, film and television, and is particularly noted for radio acting and voicing audiobooks. Early life and education Jarvis was born in Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, to Denys Harry Jarvis and Margot Lillian Scottney, and grew up in South Norwood and Sanderstead, north Surrey. Jarvis was educated at Whitgift School, an independent school in Croydon, and at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (RADA), where he won the Vanbrugh Award and the silver medal. Career Theatre work Jarvis has acted in many stage productions in London and abroad, including alongside Diana Rigg and Natascha McElhone in Joanna Murray-Smith's ''Honour'' at London's Wyndham's Theatre in 2006. His other stage work includes '' Woman in Mind'' and '' Henceforward...'' by Alan Ayckbourn, ''Other Places'' by Harold Pinter, ''Exc ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Margaret Rutherford
Dame Margaret Taylor Rutherford (11 May 1892 – 22 May 1972) was an English actress of stage, film and television. Rutherford came to national attention following World War II in the film adaptations of Noël Coward's ''Blithe Spirit (1945 film), Blithe Spirit'', and Oscar Wilde's ''The Importance of Being Earnest (1952 film), The Importance of Being Earnest''. In 1948, she was awarded with Special Tony Award for Outstanding Foreign Company as a ''The Importance of Being Earnest'' cast member and later won an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress and a Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actress – Motion Picture for her role as the Duchess of Brighton in ''The V.I.P.s (film), The V.I.P.s'' (1963). In the early 1960s, she starred as Agatha Christie, Agatha Christie's character Miss Marple in a series of four George Pollock (director), George Pollock films. She was appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in 1961 and a Dame Commander (DBE) in 1967. ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Edith Evans
Dame Edith Mary Evans (8 February 1888 – 14 October 1976) was an English actress. She was best known for Edith Evans – stage and film roles, her work on the West End theatre, West End stage, but also appeared in films at the beginning and towards the end of her career. Between 1964 and 1968, she was nominated for three Academy Awards. Evans's stage career spanned sixty years, during which she played more than 100 roles, in classics by William Shakespeare, Shakespeare, William Congreve, Congreve, Oliver Goldsmith, Goldsmith, Richard Brinsley Sheridan, Sheridan and Oscar Wilde, Wilde, and plays by contemporary writers including George Bernard Shaw, Bernard Shaw, Enid Bagnold, Christopher Fry and Noël Coward. She created roles in two of Shaw's plays: Orinthia in ''The Apple Cart'' (1929), and Epifania in ''The Millionairess (play), The Millionairess'' (1940) and was in the British premières of two others: ''Heartbreak House'' (1921) and ''Back to Methuselah'' (1923). Evans b ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
