This play take place in 1893 in the late Spring. in the Shires. This play also takes place in a twenty-four hour time period. This play has a lot of things that happen during this twenty-four hour period, so in order to show the time difference, without taking away from the story, lighting effects would help to show day and night and the transitions between them. Sound could also be a way to help express the time that is passing. To help with expressing the season that this play is in, the costume designer can use colors in their designs to help with the season. The lighting designer can also help with using different colored lights that you see mostly in this season.
Script
Friday, March 11, 2011
Conflicts
In this play, there is a conflict that is faced by many people during this time period, illegitimate children. It was never intentional, and most times the fathers didn't even know about their child. In this play, Mrs. Arbuthnot and Lord Illingworth had an affair in their past and never expected it to go that way. Mrs. Arbuthnot never told Lord Illingworth about Gerald, so when e hires Gerald as his personal assistant, he is clueless as is Gerald about their connection.
During the 19th century, there was a great emphasis on marriage. Any who didn't follow this was outcast from their community. But despite this, there were still many children that were born without their parents being married. Because it was such a great shame to have illegitimate children, people went to great lengths to hide this secret. Grandparents would say that the new child is there and would pass it off as a sibling of its parents. During this time period it was illegal for illegitimate children to inherit and it was often found in the more well off families trusts were set up to help care for their welfare.
The shame of illegitimacy from the 19th century is hard to understand now because it is not seen as such a bad thing anymore. Then, if a mother was ashamed enough, she may even kill her own child in order to not have to deal with that shame. Some would say that these days we call it abortion.
Illegitimacy
During the 19th century, there was a great emphasis on marriage. Any who didn't follow this was outcast from their community. But despite this, there were still many children that were born without their parents being married. Because it was such a great shame to have illegitimate children, people went to great lengths to hide this secret. Grandparents would say that the new child is there and would pass it off as a sibling of its parents. During this time period it was illegal for illegitimate children to inherit and it was often found in the more well off families trusts were set up to help care for their welfare.
The shame of illegitimacy from the 19th century is hard to understand now because it is not seen as such a bad thing anymore. Then, if a mother was ashamed enough, she may even kill her own child in order to not have to deal with that shame. Some would say that these days we call it abortion.
Illegitimacy
The Criticism.
"A Women of No Importance" is sometimes to be considered the weakest of Wilde's plays because the drama doesn't start till the second half of the second act. The whole first part is just a conversation between the upperclass. Lytton Strachey gave a curious interpretation of the relationship between Lord Illingworth and his new-found son Gerald. In a letter to Duncun Grant he described the relationship to be that Illingworth had homosexual thoughts towards his son. Strachey's thoughts probably came from the fact that Wilde had recently been exposed as a homosexual as well.
Wiki criticism
Wilde has his own criticism towards the upper class throughout his play. With his wit, he shows the upper class for who they are. He seems to be satirising upper class Victorian society in its hypocrisy. He shows that the upper class believe themselves to be of higher status because of the title that their name has.
Wilde Criticsm
Wiki criticism
Wilde has his own criticism towards the upper class throughout his play. With his wit, he shows the upper class for who they are. He seems to be satirising upper class Victorian society in its hypocrisy. He shows that the upper class believe themselves to be of higher status because of the title that their name has.
Wilde Criticsm
Oscar Wilde
Oscar Wilde was born on October 16 1854 in Dublin. His mother Lady Jane Francesca Wilde was a successful poet and journalist. His father was a leading ear and eye surgeon, a renowned philanthropist, and a writer. Wilde went to school at Portora Royal School, Enniskillen, County Fermanagh, Trinity College, Dublin and Magdalen College, Oxford. While he was attending Oxford, he became a part of the "Art for Art's Sake" movement and while at Magdalen, he won the he won the 1878 Newdigate Prize for his poem Ravenna.
He moved to Chelsea so that he could start a literary career. He lectured in the United States, Canada, Britain, and Ireland. From the mid-1800s he was a regular contributor for Pall Mall Gazette and Dramatic View.
Wilde married Constance Lloyd on May 29, 1884. They had two boys, Cyril and Vyvyan. In order to support his family, Wilde got a job as an editor of Woman's World magazine. He published The Happy Prince and Other Tales in 1888, which were fairy-stories written for his two sons. His first on only novel, The Picture of Dorian Gray, was published in 1891 and received a lot of negative criticism due to its homoerotic overtones. In 1891, Wilde began his affair with Lord Alfred Douglas who became the love of is life as well as his downfall. Wilde's marriage ended in 1893.
Wilde's greatest talent was in his play writing. His first play was "Lady Windermere's Fan." After the success of this play, he wrote a string of comedies that included "A Woman of No Importance," "An Ideal Husband," and "The Importance of Being Earnest."
Wilde tried to sue the Marquis of Queensberry, Douglas's father, for accusing him of being a homosexual. He was unsuccessful and was ended up arrested and sentenced to two years hard labor for the crime of sodomy. While in prison he wrote De Profundis, a dramatic monologue and autobiography, which was dedicated to Douglas.
After Wilde was released he wrote “The Ballad of Reading Gaol” in order to reveal his concern for the inhuman prison conditions. He spent the rest of his life wondering Europe and died of cerebral meningitis on November 30, 1900, penniless, in a cheap Paris hotel.
Wilde Bibliography
He moved to Chelsea so that he could start a literary career. He lectured in the United States, Canada, Britain, and Ireland. From the mid-1800s he was a regular contributor for Pall Mall Gazette and Dramatic View.
Wilde married Constance Lloyd on May 29, 1884. They had two boys, Cyril and Vyvyan. In order to support his family, Wilde got a job as an editor of Woman's World magazine. He published The Happy Prince and Other Tales in 1888, which were fairy-stories written for his two sons. His first on only novel, The Picture of Dorian Gray, was published in 1891 and received a lot of negative criticism due to its homoerotic overtones. In 1891, Wilde began his affair with Lord Alfred Douglas who became the love of is life as well as his downfall. Wilde's marriage ended in 1893.
Wilde's greatest talent was in his play writing. His first play was "Lady Windermere's Fan." After the success of this play, he wrote a string of comedies that included "A Woman of No Importance," "An Ideal Husband," and "The Importance of Being Earnest."
Wilde tried to sue the Marquis of Queensberry, Douglas's father, for accusing him of being a homosexual. He was unsuccessful and was ended up arrested and sentenced to two years hard labor for the crime of sodomy. While in prison he wrote De Profundis, a dramatic monologue and autobiography, which was dedicated to Douglas.
After Wilde was released he wrote “The Ballad of Reading Gaol” in order to reveal his concern for the inhuman prison conditions. He spent the rest of his life wondering Europe and died of cerebral meningitis on November 30, 1900, penniless, in a cheap Paris hotel.
Wilde Bibliography
What's Going On?
On January 1, 1892, the year before this play was set, Ellis island begins to start letting immigrants into the United States. On february 22 wilde's "Lady Windermere's Fan" premieres in London.
What do these have to do with the play you ask, well that's simple. One of the characters in the play is from America, and would know about the immigration that was starting to be watched. More than likely she was an immigrant from another country. As for the play, "A Woman of No Importance" was written as a follow up to the success of "Lady Windermere's fan."History 1892
On May 5, 1893, there was the panic of 1893 when the new york stock exchange had a large crash. This had a large effect on those living in the US that had something put into the stock exchange. It was mostly those with money on the side that did not suffer and were still able to go to visit people, even if in other countries. History 1893
What do these have to do with the play you ask, well that's simple. One of the characters in the play is from America, and would know about the immigration that was starting to be watched. More than likely she was an immigrant from another country. As for the play, "A Woman of No Importance" was written as a follow up to the success of "Lady Windermere's fan."History 1892
On May 5, 1893, there was the panic of 1893 when the new york stock exchange had a large crash. This had a large effect on those living in the US that had something put into the stock exchange. It was mostly those with money on the side that did not suffer and were still able to go to visit people, even if in other countries. History 1893
Thursday, March 10, 2011
What to Wear? What to Wear?
You ask what clothes should these actors wear. as this play was first produced in 1893, i would pick clothes from that era of time.
women wore full dresses that were tight around the waist as there outing dresses. they also sometimes had jackets with ruffles at the edges of the coat. as an accessory women would also wear hats with these dresses.
Outing Dresses
Men wore suits as their daily outfits. they too also would wear hats. not all suits of this time were plaid, but it was a common thing to see on suits.
The clothes also picked for this play should be from spring as that is when this play takes place. The material used should also be lite and airy so that the actors can breath with the amount pf clothing that they will be wearing.
Women will be wearing corsets with their outfits as well, so they will need time in order to get used to wearing them and being able to breath in them.
women wore full dresses that were tight around the waist as there outing dresses. they also sometimes had jackets with ruffles at the edges of the coat. as an accessory women would also wear hats with these dresses.
Outing Dresses
Men wore suits as their daily outfits. they too also would wear hats. not all suits of this time were plaid, but it was a common thing to see on suits.
The clothes also picked for this play should be from spring as that is when this play takes place. The material used should also be lite and airy so that the actors can breath with the amount pf clothing that they will be wearing.
Women will be wearing corsets with their outfits as well, so they will need time in order to get used to wearing them and being able to breath in them.
The Play
A Woman of no importance by oscar wilde was first run in 1893. the play was written for herbert beerbolm Tree. Tree wanted it to follow the success of wilde's lady windermere's fan.
The first performance was a great success but while wilde was bowing as t writer, he was also booed because of one line in the play. This line was later taken out even after the prince of whales attend the show and said to not change a line.
The production took place in new york as well and was set to go on tour. but after the arrest of wilde for indecency and sodomy following his feud with marquess of queensberry. this all cancelled the tour.
Wikipedia: A Woman of No Importance
Image: Original Cast
The first performance was a great success but while wilde was bowing as t writer, he was also booed because of one line in the play. This line was later taken out even after the prince of whales attend the show and said to not change a line.
The production took place in new york as well and was set to go on tour. but after the arrest of wilde for indecency and sodomy following his feud with marquess of queensberry. this all cancelled the tour.
Wikipedia: A Woman of No Importance
Image: Original Cast
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