An ideal husband the play begins in the home of sir robert chiltern and his wife gertrude, who are entertaining. The action is set in london, in the present, and takes place over the course of twentyfour hours. An ideal husband broadway an ideal husband in oscar wildes brilliantly witty comedy, fate catches up to politician robert chiltern when a mysterious woman produces a letter revealing a. As the butler introduces guests, the earl of caversham searches for his goodfornothing son, lord goring and finds the charming mabel chiltern. Marchmont and lady basildon, conservative politicians like lord caversham, and clever dandies like lord goring. An ideal husband by oscar wilde was wildly popular when it was first staged on january 3, 1895 and has remained one of his most performed and studied works ever since.
Critics and audiences alike thoroughly enjoyed this tale of blackmail, mystery and high level political corruption. That romance and the scandal surrounding it landed wilde in jail two years later the same year his plays an ideal husband and the importance of being earnest opened in london. A play like oscar wildes an ideal husband works because it takes place in a society bound by inflexible rules and social inhibitions. May 04, 2018 an ideal husband is a play that explores hypocrisy and corruption, moral complexity and the potential for redemption. It was selected as the 1999 cannes film festival s closing film. The octagon room at sir robert chilterns house in grosvenor square. The oscar wilde season at the vaudeville, which has already produced revivals of lady windermeres fan and a woman of no importance and now continues with an ideal husband, feels like slipping into another age of luxurious chocolate box theatre. But when the scheming and seductive mrs cheveley threatens to reveal a dark secret from chilterns past, the very foundations of his prized career and marriage look set to.
An ideal husband was a very entertaining play, as all of oscar wildes are. Last chance to see jonathan churchs incredibly funny the times and wildely charming mail on sunday revival of oscar wildes an ideal husband. The rollsroyce of english comedies, oscar wildes an ideal husband brings an act of political sin into the heart of the english home, playing as part of classic springs yearlong celebration of wilde in an ideal husband, an ambitious government minister, sir robert chiltern, is on an assured smooth ascent to the top. The wine is flowing, the lights are flattering, and the diamonds are twinkling. At the top of the staircase stands lady chiltern, a woman of grave greek beauty, about twentyseven years of age. Lord arthur goring rupert everett, lady gertrude chiltern cate blanchett, miss mabel chiltern minnie driver. Lord goring, lady gertrude and miss mabel will say anything to convince sir robert that the letter was indeed meant for him. Admired by all, they present an exquisite picture of wedded harmony. An ideal husband tickets, vaudeville theatre official. Welcome to the litcharts study guide on oscar wildes an ideal husband. This original book version, though, bothered me a bit. The room is brilliantly lighted and full of guests. A prominent politician is preparing to expose a financial scandal. An ideal husband is a play that explores hypocrisy and corruption, moral complexity and the potential for redemption.
It tells the story of robert chilterns nearly ruined political career. An ideal husband is an 1895 stage play by oscar wilde that revolves around blackmail and political corruption, and touches on the themes of public and private honour. Written in the late 1800s, an ideal husband and a woman of no importance are peppered with the unmistakable wit and satire that made oscar wilde one of the most famous literary figures of his era. Best performance by an actress in a motion picture, comedy or musical. About the author poet and playwright oscar wilde 18541900 remains best known for his comedies of the 1890s, including the importance of being earnest, and for his tragic imprisonment and. Enter your location to see which movie theaters are playing oscar wilde season live. Cheveley, should follow the authors remark to show how smart her character stole the letter lady chiltern. Sir robert and lady gertrude chiltern, rising star couple on the political scene, greet the whos who of 1890s london as they mill about delivering bon mots. The film stars jeremy northam, rupert everett, julianne moore, minnie driver and oscar winning actress cate blanchett. But then a woman who has invested heavily in the shady venture threatens to uncover a damaging secret in the politicians past if he exposes the speculation as a fraud.
Over the well of the staircase hangs a great chandelier. An ideal husband tickets vaudeville theatre londontheatre. An ideal husband summary from litcharts the creators of. Of course he doesnt need to be a gentlemanthats where the story comes in.
Sir robert chiltons secret is discovered and exposed. An ideal husband is a mustread for wilde fans, students of english literature, and anyone delighted by wit, urbanity, and timeless sophistication. British writer oscar wilde started drafting an ideal husband in 1893, pretty distracted by his lover lord alfred douglas. An ideal husband actually does deliver all those things, but mostly in a pleasurably understated way no need for the noisy signals. Rupert everett plays the shiftless lord arthur goring, a wealthy bachelor who spends most of his time admiring himself in the mirror and charming the ladies of his uppercrust social circle. But when the scheming and seductive mrs cheveley threatens to reveal a dark secret from chilterns past, the very foundations of his prized career and marriage. Its the most modern and entertaining version of an oscar wilde play on film. Cheveley comes the threat of blackmail and the ruin of. Read a plot overview of the entire play or a scene by scene summary and analysis. An ideal husband may 01, 1996 jan 26, 1997 performer. She looks at him with strange eyes, as though she were seeing him for the first time.
Miramax and the miramax logo are the registered trademarks, trademarks and service marks of miramax, llc. Therefore, guided by the authors remark, she says goodbye to lord goring, overlooking the victor. An ideal husband is a play by oscar wilde that was first published in in 1895. Sir robert turns for help to his friend lord goring, an apparently idle philanderer and the despair of his father. Latest headlines bumblee director travis knight to helm uncharted film starring tom holland. An ideal husband proves the ideal comedy, thanks to its respectful adaptation of oscar wildes original play of the same title. Fun acting session trying to film an actress performing a monologue of mabel from an ideal husband by oscar wilde acting scho. With rupert everett, julianne moore, peter vaughan, minnie driver. Created by the original team behind sparknotes, litcharts are the worlds best literature guides. An ideal husband is an 1895 stage play by oscar wilde that revolves around a wealthy and highly respected politician, sir robert chiltern, who is threatened with ruin by the revelation of a single act of corruption in his youth. His problem is compounded by his wifes intolerance of the. The women in lord gorings life cant help but become mesmerized by his charisma. Garnished with wildes inimitable witty one liners, the play. A concise biography of oscar wilde plus historical and.
An ideal husband broadway an ideal husband in oscar wildes brilliantly witty comedy, fate catches up to politician robert chiltern when a mysterious woman produces a letter revealing a past. Sir robert chiltern is a successful government minister, welloff and with a loving wife. An ideal husband by oscar wilde, 1999 online research. An ideal husband, by oscar wilde project gutenberg. The following is a list of plays that have won the tony award or laurence olivier award for best play. This adaptation gets to the nitty gritty of wildes stage piece and plays on eternal human foibles. It looks like we dont have any awards for this title yet. A brilliant politician and a perfect gentleman, he is the ideal husband for the captivating lady chiltern.
All this is threatened when mrs cheveley appears in london with damning evidence of a past misdeed. Free kindle book and epub digitized and proofread by project gutenberg. You may copy it, give it away or reuse it under the terms of the project gutenberg license included with this ebook or online at. Since he has been at the foreign office, he has been so much talked of in vienn a. Goring knows the lady of old, and, for him, takes the whole thing pretty seriously. An ideal husband study guide from litcharts the creators. An ideal husband is a 1999 film based on the play of the same name by oscar wilde. In so many ways its a play for today, or could be made to feel that way. An ideal husband is a 1999 film based on the play an ideal husband by oscar wilde. Sooner or later, wilde notes, we shall all have to pay for what we do. As is usual for the wilde ive read, the writing is very good.
To love oneself is the beginning of a lifelong romance. I was surprised that i didnt like oscar wildes an ideal husband more. The movie contains several positive moral messages and one important moral dilemma. An ideal husband is the essence of a drawing room drama. An ideal husband will introduce children to the artistry of oscar wilde and to upper crust english society at the turn of the 20th century. The curtain lifts to show a large, beautifully appointed drawing room where lady chiltern is receiving her guests.
The project gutenberg ebook of an ideal husband, by oscar wilde this ebook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with almost no restrictions whatsoever. Cabinet minister, sir chiltern, and bachelor, lord goring, are victims of scheming women. With paulette goddard, michael wilding, diana wynyard, hugh williams. An ideal husband by oscar wilde free at loyal books. An ideal husband 1996 broadway tickets, news, info, photos. Oscar and academy award are the registered trademarks, trademarks and servicemarks of the academy of motion picture arts and sciences. An ideal husband revival, play, comedy, broadway opened in new york city may 1, 1996 and played through jan 26, 1997. Mar 15, 2014 fun acting session trying to film an actress performing a monologue of mabel from an ideal husband by oscar wilde acting scho. A dazzling blend of farce and morality, an ideal husband explores human frailty and social hypocrisy. Mabel an ideal husband by oscar wilde bloopers youtube. An ideal husband 1996 broadway tickets, news, info.
Dec 11, 2016 i was surprised that i didnt like oscar wildes an ideal husband more. It could play as a comedy, if the lord goring character is amped up, but director judith swift and estrella, to their credit, keep an even. Mar 08, 2015 6 videos play all jeremy brett an ideal husband 1969 all 6 parts turuzutzutzutz chitty chitty bang bang after they were famous duration. It all seems calculated to churn up excitement, a promise that theres lots of dazzle, glamour and intrigue to come. Sir robert chiltern is a successful government minister, welloff. An ideal husband oscar wildes 104yearold legiter about emotional and political chicanery shines like a freshly minted coin in oliver parkers adaptation of an ideal husband. Lord arthur goring rupert everett, lady gertrude chiltern cate blanchett, sir robert chiltern jeremy northam, miss mabel chiltern minnie driver. Directed by 1 writing credits 2 cast 35 produced by 8 music by 1. See a complete list of the characters in an ideal husband and indepth analyses of sir robert chiltern, lady gertrude chiltern, mrs. Highlighted shows are currently running on either broadway or west end as of june 2019. Here is a story in which a marriage, a romance, a fortune and government policy all rest on such foundations as a mans obligation to act like a gentleman. Since he has been at the foreign office, he has been so much talked of in. I had seen the movie an ideal husband hd some years back and really liked it.