A Woman of No Importance

A Play

Oscar Wilde

• Editore: Open Road Media
• Anno: 2018
• ISBN:
  9781504050142
• Argomento: Literature
• Categoria: British Drama

The classic satirical play about England's upper class from a master dramatist. Centering on a long-concealed secret, A Woman of No Importance, like many of Oscar Wilde's plays, satirizes England's upper class. A house party is in full swing at Lady Hunstanton's country home, when it is announced that Gerald Arbuthnot has been appointed secretary to the sophisticated, witty Lord Illingworth. Only Gerald's mother stands in the way of his appointment, but she fears telling him why, for who will believe Lord Illingworth to be a man of no importance? A classic takedown of the British upper class, A Woman of No Importance remains just as relevant today as when it first graced the stages of London. This ebook has been professionally proofread to ensure accuracy and readability on all devices.

A Woman of No Importance

A Play

Oscar Wilde

THE PERSONS OF THE PLAY

Lord Illingworth

Sir John Pontefract

Lord Alfred Rufford

Mr. Kelvil, M.P.

The Ven. Archdeacon Daubeny, D.D.

Gerald Arbuthnot

Farquhar, Butler

Francis, Footman

Lady Hunstanton

Lady Caroline Pontefract

Lady Stutfield

Mrs. Allonby

Miss Hester Worsley

Alice, Maid

Mrs. Arbuthnot

THE SCENES OF THE PLAY

Act I. The Terrace at Hunstanton Chase.

Act II. The Drawing-room at Hunstanton Chase.

Act III. The Hall at Hunstanton Chase.

Act IV. Sitting-room in Mrs. Arbuthnot’s House at Wrockley.

Time: The Present.

Place: The Shires.

The action of the play takes place within twenty-four hours.

FIRST ACT

SCENE

Lawn in front of the terrace at Hunstanton.

[Sir John and Lady Caroline Pontefract, Miss Worsley, on chairs under large yew tree.]

Lady Caroline: I believe this is the first English country house you have stayed at, Miss Worsley?

Hester: Yes, Lady Caroline.

Lady Caroline: You have no country houses, I am told, in America?

Hester: We have not many.

Lady Caroline: Have you any country? What we should call country?

Hester: [Smiling.] We have the largest country in the world, Lady Caroline. They used to tell us at school that some of our states are as big as France and England put together.

Lady Caroline: Ah! you must find it very draughty, I should fancy. [To Sir John.] John, you should have your muffler. What is the use of my always knitting mufflers for you if you won’t wear them?

Sir John: I am quite warm, Caroline, I assure you.

Lady Caroline: I think not, John. Well, you couldn’t come to a more charming place than this, Miss Worsley, though the house is excessively damp, quite unpardonably damp, and dear Lady Hunstanton is sometimes a little lax about the people she asks down here. [To Sir John.] Jane mixes too much. Lord Illingworth, of course, is a man of high distinction. It is a privilege to meet him. And that member of Parliament, Mr. Kettle—

Sir John: Kelvil, my love, Kelvil.

Lady Caroline: He must be quite respectable. One has never heard his name before in the whole course of one’s life, which speaks volumes for a man, nowadays. But Mrs. Allonby is hardly a very suitable person.

Hester: I dislike Mrs. Allonby. I dislike her more than I can say.

Lady Caroline: I am not sure, Miss Worsley, that for...