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Salient. An Organ of Student Opinion at Victoria University, Wellington N.Z. Vol. 22, No. 4. April 27, 1959

Why, oh Why?

Why, oh Why?

Wilde's "The Importance of Being Earnest" has been done all over the country many many times. There has been an excellent film, and there is also a perfect L.P. version of this masterful comedy.

Why did the Players choose it?

The Players came a cropper with their version. The production and the acting were in all sorts of styles.

At one moment it was all farce (Stafford Byrne's forte, I suspect), the next it was modern drawing-room comedy.

Only three of the actors came close to the essence of Wilde comedy. Edward Petheredge, Louise Harris, and Anthony Groser (Algy, Gwendolen and Canon Chausible) were all light, charming and acting in the world created by Wilde; they took the comedy seriously.