The company does an excellent job of bringing this classic to life, making it relatable and accessible while weaving in various recognisable references and jokes that keep the audience fully engaged and involved (cue a hilarious rendition of Justin Bieber’s ‘Sorry’). It took a moment for the pace to get going, with the canned laughter feeling slightly jarring at first, but once it picked up it was a blast!

We follow two caddish young chaps, Jack and Algernon, who adopt the same fake identity, posing under the name Earnest to dodge their duties and chase after lovers. When said love interests, Gwendolen and Cecily, discover that both men have been pretending to be Earnest, mayhem unfolds, plunging us headfirst into the farcical world that Oscar Wilde is famous for.

A fab cast, with Emily Foxton’s portrayal of Lady Bracknell truly stealing the show! She nailed the perfect level of haughty energy, effortlessly satirising the upper classes and cleverly breaking the fourth wall in character by disapproving of a delayed cue of canned laughter after one of her lines – “too late!” she announces.  The audience brought a great energy too, laughing along throughout and soaking up the chaos of the storyline. 

The run at The Golden Goose Theatre has sadly finished but keep an eye out for what The New Rep do next!