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The play revolves around two friends Algernon Moncrief, an aristocratic Londoner, and Jack Worthing, from the countryside. Whenever Algernon wants to get away from the city, he makes an ostensible visit to his sick friend Bunbury in the country feigning piety and dedication. Similarly Jack visits town to enjoy the city life under the pretension that he has a wastrel brother named Ernest, who lives in London. But in town he calls himself Ernest.

The interesting section of the uncomplicated plot happens when Ernest’s love for Algernon’s cousin Gwendolen Fairfax is disapproved by Lady Bracknell (mother of Gwendolen), who considers it as absolutely below the standards of her daughter to “marry into a cloakroom and form an alliance with a parcel,” as she puts it.

Meanwhile Algernon falls in love with 18-year-old heiress Cecily Cardew, the young ward of Jack, much to the chagrin of Jack.

Pretending to be “Ernest”, Algernon earns the love of Cecily, who has developed a love for the name like Gwendolen. When both the girls come to know about the truth, they turn their back towards their lovers, though eagerly awaiting an opportunity to join hands again.

It is quite interesting to note the pun on the word “Ernest”. The performers too seemed to have a better understanding of the subtle humour and irony implied throughout the play.

For instance, though Jack calls himself as “Ernest”, he is not really an earnest man. His ladylove Gwendolen does not really want to marry an earnest man but a man with the name “Ernest”. The humour emanates from the absurdities.

If S. Annam, donning the role of Algernon, was at her best in dialogue delivery, J. Achsah Georgina in the role of Cecily Cardew was brilliant with her chirpy voice. Not to forget S. Vrushaa whose pleasing demeanour and extravagant expressions were attractive.

Overall, it was a good team effort. Directors of the play, Dew Lawrent and Beatrice D’Couto have done a commendable job extracting maximum commitment from the performers as well as back stage crew though there were some inconsistencies in actors’ entry and exit.

At the end of the play everybody was upbeat inside the J.X. Miller Auditorium of Lady Doak College, which is celebrating golden jubilee of its English Department.

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