Description
The First World War is raging throughout Europe. Meanwhile in a library in Zurich some of the most acute minds of the Twentieth Century seek sanctuary. Lenin, Tristan Tzara, James Joyce and Henry Carr prepare to mount a seminal (amateur) production of Oscar Wilde’s The Importance of Being Earnest.
Henry Carr? Not THE Henry Carr …?
Yes. Henry Carr. Minor consular official. Dedicated follower of fashion. Shameless self promoter. Performer in Joyce’s crack A-team (that’s A for ‘Amateur’).
Told from the perspective of this historical non-entity, Carr – comforted by the passage of time and the vagaries of memory – (inaccurately) places himself at the centre of events, elevating his own importance in a period of intellectual invigoration and rigor; a time filled with the promise of cultural and social transformation.
In this classic comedy, Tom Stoppard juxtaposes the ridiculous pomposity of the brilliantly unremarkable Henry Carr against the exuberance and wit of some of the greatest talents of the last century. This is Stoppard at his best: a medley of debates pertaining to literature, philosophy, history and politics, spun from dialogue that glistens with language games, puns and wit.
Directed by Richard Cottrell
With Robert Alexander, Blazey Best, Jonathan Biggins, Peter Houghton, Rebecca Massey, Toby Schmitz, Wendy Strehlow, William Zappa