ABSTRACT
I have not the slightest intention of seriously criticising Mr. O.Wilde’s new piece at the St. James’s: as well might one sit down after dinner and attempt gravely to discuss the true inwardness of a soufflé. Nor, fortunately, is it necessary to enter into details as to its wildly farcical plot: as well might one, after a successful display of fireworks in the back garden, set to work laboriously to analsye the composition of a Catherine wheel. At the same time I wish at once to admit, fairly and frankly, that The Importance of being Earnest amused me very much. The author has told us that he himself regards it as ‘a delicate bubble of fancy’; but there is rather too much in it about babies being left in hand-bags at the cloakrooms of London termini for me to allow it is that. No, it is neither ‘delicate’ nor ‘bubbly’; but, I repeat, it is undoubtedly amusing, and that is a quality which, in le monde où l’on s’ennuie,1 is certain to meet with warm approval. Whether we should have heard as much as we have about it, had anybody else written it, is doubtful; but that only shows the importance of being-Oscar.
