The Importance of Being Earnest

John Worthing (20s to 30s): A quintessential English gentleman, going by the name of ‘Jack’. He often dines with his good friend Algernon. He is also in love with Gwendolen Fairfax, Algernon’s first cousin, and guardian to his ward, Cecily Cardew. Jack frequents his country house to escape obligations in town. He is written as twenty-nine years old.

Genders: Male

Ages: 20-30

Algernon Moncrief (20s to 30s): An English dandy who lives utterly for pleasure and frequently comes up to town. He is good friends with Jack while exasperating him in equal measure. He later falls in love with Cecily Cardew, Jack’s ward, and absconds to the country to pursue her. He is younger than Jack.

Genders: Male

Ages: 20-30

Gwendolen Fairfax (20s to 30s): An elegant and strong-willed young lady, she is the daughter of Lady Bracknell. Gwendolen desires to marry a man called Ernest, as the name inspires “absolute confidence”. She is in love with Jack, who adopts the name to court her. Gwendolen pursues Jack to the country against her mother’s wishes.

Genders: Female

Ages: 20-30

Cecily Cardew (18 or older): Jack’s idealistic young ward, who lives at his house in the country. She is bored by her lessons, preferring instead to write in her diary. She also desires to marry a man called Ernest. She falls in love with Algernon, believing he is Jack’s wayward brother Ernest.

Genders: Female

Ages: 16-20

Lady Bracknell (50s or older): The indomitable Lady Augusta Bracknell is Gwendolen’s mother and Algernon’s aunt. She has exceedingly rigid views on society and enforces them fiercely. She does not approve of Jack courting her daughter. She later follows Gwendolen to the country, intervening in her engagement to Jack. Lady Bracknell is most often played by women but may also be played by a male actor in period appropriate drag.

Genders: Female

Ages: 55-65

Miss Prism (50s or older): Cecily’s well-meaning if somewhat incompetent governess. She takes her duties seriously, lecturing Cecily on her inattentiveness. She is besotted with Dr Chasuble, reverend of the local parish, but is prevented from pursuing him. There is more to her than first appears.

Genders: Female

Ages: 55-65

Dr Chasuble (50s or older): Dr Frederick Chasuble is the parish reverend. He has feelings for Miss Prism but is prevented by faith and inhibition from declaring them. Though well-intentioned, his views and way of speaking are occasionally incomprehensible to others.

Genders: Male

Ages: 55-65

Lane/Merriman (50s or older): Lane is Algernon’s manservant in town. He is fully aware of his employer’s double life, usually maintaining a deadpan demeanour. Merriman is Jack’s butler in the country. Unlike Lane, he is unaware of his employer’s double life and somewhat confused as a result. Both characters will be played by a single actor in a dual role.

Genders: Male

Ages: 55-65