The National Theatre production of Oscar Wilde’s “The Importance of Being Earnest,” starring Ncuti Gatwa, has unveiled a trailer ahead of its cinema release on Feb. 20.
The trailer begins with Gatwa, dressed to the nines in a pink gown and matching gloves, playing a piano riff before leaning back to give viewers a sassy wink. Various clips of the filmed performance then tease the show’s offbeat humor, glamorous costumes and talented cast.
The “Doctor Who” and “Sex Education” star plays Algernon Moncrief, a witty yet idle bachelor, alongside Hugh Skinner’s Jack Worthing in the production reimagined by Max Webster (Donmar Warehouse’s “Macbeth,” “Life of Pi”).
The play’s provided synopsis is as follows: “While assuming the role of a dutiful guardian in the country, Jack (Skinner) lets loose in town under a false identity. Meanwhile, his friend Algy (Gatwa) adopts a similar facade. Hoping to impress two eligible ladies, the gentlemen find themselves caught in a web of lies they must carefully navigate.”
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Alongside Gatwa and Skinner, the production stars Ronkẹ Adékọluẹ́jọ́ (“Blues for an Alabama Sky”), Julian Bleach (“Doctor Who”), Shereener Browne (“The Effect”), Richard Cant (“Stan & Ollie”), Sharon D Clarke (“Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom”), Jasmine Kerr (“Follies”), Amanda Lawrence (“Star Wars: Episode – IX The Rise of Skywalker”), Gillian McCafferty (“The Rise & Fall of Little Voice”), Elliot Pritchard (“Museum of Austerity”), Eliza Scanlen (“Little Women”) and John Vernon (“Coriolanus”).
“The Importance of Being Earnest” is playing at the National Theatre’s Lyttelton Theatre through Jan. 25 and will release in cinemas globally via National Theatre Live. Cinemagoers can find the nearest screening to them on the NT Live website.
Watch the trailer for “The Importance of Being Earnest” below.