REVIEW: The Importance of Being Oscar at Park Theatre until 22 August 2026

“Thoroughly enjoyable and expertly performed. An excellent choice for a night at the theatre for both Oscar Wilde enthusiasts and strangers, alike.” ★★★★

It’s difficult to walk out of The Importance of Being Oscar, now on at Park Theatre, unimpressed with Oscar Wilde’s biting wit and avant garde approach to life. It’s impossible to leave without being blown away by Alastair Whatley’s performance. The success of the one-man show rests squarely on his shoulders. It is, after all, 110-minutes of him speaking directly to his audience, sans set piece or props aside from a single green carnation. Fortunately, Whatley lives up to the challenge. His command of the stage is only elevated by excellent direction from Michael Fentiman. 

110 minutes, including a 20 minute intermission, is an awkward run-time. The book itself runs closer to 90 minutes, making the intermission arguably superfluous, but the density of the script does demand time for processing and reflection. 

The Importance of Being Oscar premiered in Dublin in 1960, sixty years after Wilde’s death. The play tells the true story of Oscar Wilde’s life, particularly the later years in which he stood trial and eventually served two years in prison on charges of indecent conduct. The Park Theatre programme provides useful context including a timeline of Wilde’s life, and notes on the significance of The Importance of Being Oscar including the fact that Micheál Mac Liammói wrote it thirty years before the decriminalisation of gay sex in both his and Wildes’ home country of Ireland. Although The Importance of Being Oscar does not purport to live up to journalistic standards, its authenticity is evidenced by its use of countless primary source texts. Entire excerpts from Wilde’s plays are included, using his dialogue as an extension of his interiority. Liammóir also uses verbatim testimony from letters, journal entries, and court transcripts, invoking Wilde’s words and the words of those who knew him best to paint a picture of the man behind The Picture of Dorian Gray. 

The lead performer in The Importance of Being Oscar - in this case Whatley - narrates the story of Wilde’s life to the audience, shattering the fourth wall. The performer also assumes the rotating roles of Wilde, his characters, and the real friends and acquaintances from his life. Whatley has no difficulty assuming this range of characters, dropping in and out with ease. His characterisations are subtle, but precise and distinct. His talent mitigates the risk of audience difficulty following the large cast of characters in Wilde’s life. Whatley’s ability to captivate his audience also goes a long way in holding attention through certain longer passages, especially right at the end. The play’s humour is  a great strength. Despite its darkness, it never stops being funny thanks to Wilde’s witty words and Whatley’s comedic timing. 

The Importance of Being Oscar chronicles the known events of Wilde’s life, while leaning on its playwright’s imagination. Surprisingly, the play’s particular thesis remains unclear, despite the strength of the piece. Yes, Liammóir references Wilde’s sexuality, but his script is more interested in exploring Wilde’s relationship with beauty, youth, hedonism, and adoration. Liammóir’s ultimate take on these ideas is less clear. The concept of artists as reflections of their time is part of Wilde’s story, as is the changing kaleidoscope of political context throughout history that transformed Wilde's public reception throughout his lifetime and across his legacy. But the play’s ultimate perspective on these themes, particularly the idea of life spent in pursuit of pleasure, never quite comes through.  

Nonetheless, The Importance of Being Oscar is thoroughly enjoyable and expertly performed. It’s an excellent choice for a night at the theatre for both Oscar Wilde enthusiasts and strangers, alike. It assumes no prerequisite knowledge; Fentiman and Whatley are confident in their ability to take their audience on a clear and engaging journey. As they should be. 

The Importance of Being Oscar is on at Park Theatre through 22 August. Information and tickets are available at https://parktheatre.co.uk/events/the-importance-of-being-oscar/. 

Photography: Marc Brenner