Stephen Fry is branded ‘a gender-bending delight’ and the ‘trump card’ for The Importance of Being Earnest’s ‘super gay’ West End offering – while Olly Alexander is dubbed ‘wonderful’

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This week, Stephen Fry and Olly Alexander presented the newest version of Oscar Wilde’s The Importance of Being Earnest, directed by Max Webster.

After a successful run at the National Theatre last Christmas-and being shown in cinemas worldwide as part of National Theatre Live with Ncuti Gatwa and Sharon D Clarke-the production has moved to the Noël Coward Theatre.

The debut received a lot of reviews, mostly with three and four-star ratings. Critics described the show as ‘a joyfully exuberant production’, ‘super-gay reading’, and ‘colourful, giddily subversive comedy’.

Stephen, 68, who portrays Lady Bracknell in the play, has been a leading voice in the positive reception of this new version of the show. He’s been described as a ‘trump card,’ with critics noting that

As a huge fan, I was so thrilled to see Years & Years star Olly, 35, take on the role of Algernon Moncrieff! Interestingly, while some actors were described as ‘gabbling,’ Olly wasn’t one of them. Instead, both he and Stephen were praised as being a complete ‘delight’, which I absolutely agree with!

Stephen has received a lot of positive feedback for his acting. Domenic Cavendish of The Telegraph wrote: ‘Stephen Fry is a gender-bending delight as Lady Bracknell in Oscar Wilde’s theatrical masterpiece’, and gave it a four-star rating.

Oh my gosh, he actually *mentioned* Olly Alexander! I was so upset when he got “nul points” with his 2024 Eurovision entry, but honestly, it just makes his role as Algernon even *better*. He’s just so brilliantly campy and mischievous! The way he plays this man of leisure, just rushing from town to the countryside to check out Cecily – Jack’s adorable ward – it’s just *perfect*. I’m obsessed with how he embodies that playful, slightly naughty energy!

According to the Daily Mail’s Patrick Marmion – who also gave the performance four stars – Stephen was a natural fit for the role of Lady Bracknell. He described the 68-year-old actor, writer, and TV presenter as transforming into a towering, 6ft 5in figure in taffeta, perfectly embodying Wilde’s famously sharp-tongued widow.

However, some less positive reviews suggest the film goes too far. For example, Clive Davis of The Times, while giving it a four-star rating, wrote: ‘Stephen Fry drowns in camp…‘

The actor does a perfectly good job playing Lady Bracknell, however, this constant use of over-the-top, physical comedy with Oscar Wilde’s work risks ruining a classic comedic play…

Max Webster’s extremely flamboyant interpretation of Oscar Wilde’s clever remarks is delivered with such energy, it’s as if the actors were given megaphones. Nearly every line is shouted, screamed, or presented with a playful, attention-grabbing gesture towards the audience.

The production, directed by Max Webster, features performances by Olly and Stephen, with Nathan Stewart-Jarrett playing Jack Worthing. The cast also includes Hugh Dennis as Rev Canon Chasuble, Shobna Gulati as Miss Prism, and Kitty Hawthorne as Gwendolen Fairfax.

The cast features Jessica Whitehurst as Cecily Cardew, Hayley Carmichael as both Merriman and Lane, and Stephen Fry as Lady Bracknell. Completing the ensemble and serving as understudies are Jasmine Kerr, Sam Liu, Gillian McCafferty, Elliot Pritchard, and Liv Spencer.

The show begins on Thursday evening and runs until January 10, 2026. More than 20,000 tickets are being offered for less than £30 throughout the show’s duration.

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2025-10-02 13:48