An Ideal Husband" was written at Goring in 1893 and 1894. Wilde clearly had the Suez Canal scandals in mind when writing the play and he includes the worlds of the Foreign Office, Downing Street and the House of Commons. It was advertised as "A New and Original Play of Modern Life". The plot has been called contrived and melodramatic but also a brilliant pastiche of contemporary gossip.
Wilde's dramatic talent developed with each of his five plays: - first "Lady Windermere's Fan", then "Salome" (written in French & banned in England!), followed by "A Woman of No Importance", "An Ideal Husband" and finally "The Importance of Being Earnest"
Who know what gems would have followed had he not sued Lord Queensberry for libel. When that failed he was subsequently sentenced to two years hard labour, after which he lived in Paris in poverty and died in 1900 at the age of 46. We hope you find "An Ideal Husband" as we do, a witty dissection of society and morals
A play of “ foolish plot and brilliant dialogue ”
As Lady Markby says; “Now the House of Commons is trying to be useful, it does a great deal of harm”.
Tickets can be reserved from Jan 2005 by calling Norden Farm box office
£9.50 Adults
£8.00 Concessions
Modified - 24 November 2004