A Woman of No Importance facts for kids
A Woman of No Importance is a play written by the famous Irish writer Oscar Wilde. It's a "new and original play of modern life" that first opened on April 19, 1893, at the Haymarket Theatre in London. Like Wilde's other plays about society, it makes fun of the rich, upper-class people in England during that time. While it has been performed many times since Wilde's death in 1900, some people consider it the least successful of his four "drawing-room plays" – which are plays usually set in a fancy living room.
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About the Play's Beginning
Oscar Wilde's first successful play in London's West End, Lady Windermere's Fan, was very popular in 1892. After writing a different kind of play, a serious one called Salome, he was asked by a famous actor and theater manager, Herbert Beerbohm Tree, to write a new play for his company at the Haymarket Theatre. Wilde worked on A Woman of No Importance during the summer and fall of 1892.
Tree liked the play and decided to produce it. The main female role, Mrs. Arbuthnot, was first planned for another actress, but Mrs Bernard Beere ended up playing the part. The play opened on April 19, 1893. Many important people, including the Prince of Wales, came to see it. The play ran for 113 performances, which means it was shown 113 times before it closed in August.
Who Was in the First Play?
Here are some of the main actors and the characters they played in the first show:
- Lord Illingworth – Herbert Beerbohm Tree
- Sir John Pontefract – E. Holman Clark
- Lord Alfred Rufford – Ernest Lawford
- Mr Kelvil, MP (a Member of Parliament) – Charles Allan
- The Ven Dr Daubeny, DD (a religious leader) – Henry Kemble
- Gerald Arbuthnot – Fred Terry
- Lady Hunstanton – Rose Leclercq
- Lady Caroline Pontefract – R. G. Le Thière
- Mrs Allonby – Mrs H. B. Tree
- Hester Worsley – Julia Neilson
- Mrs Arbuthnot – Mrs Bernard Beere
What is the Play About?
The play takes place in 1893, in a fancy country house.
Act I: A Party at Hunstanton Chase
The story begins at a party on the terrace of Lady Hunstanton's big estate. The wealthy guests are mostly chatting and gossiping. Lady Caroline Pontefract talks down to an American visitor named Hester Worsley. She also criticizes Hester's excitement about Gerald Arbuthnot. Gerald then arrives, excited to announce that Lord Illingworth, a powerful and charming politician, wants to hire him as his secretary. This is big news for Gerald, as it would be his first step towards a successful career.
The guests then talk about rumors that Lord Illingworth might become a foreign ambassador. Lady Hunstanton sends a letter inviting Gerald's mother, Mrs. Arbuthnot, to the party. Gerald and Hester go for a walk, leaving the others to continue gossiping. Lady Hunstanton and Lady Stutfield discuss Lord Illingworth's reputation with women. When Lord Illingworth himself arrives, he says he hired Gerald because he was personally interested in him. He spends most of his time talking with Mrs. Allonby, and they eventually go into the conservatory together.
Later, a servant brings a letter from Mrs. Arbuthnot, saying she will come after dinner. When Illingworth and Mrs. Allonby return, the other guests have moved to another room for tea. Illingworth and Mrs. Allonby have a clever conversation about marriage and relationships. Gerald and Hester return briefly, then leave again. Illingworth and Mrs. Allonby discuss Hester. Mrs. Allonby says Hester is sincere about wanting to be left alone, but Illingworth sees it as a challenge. Lord Illingworth notices Mrs. Arbuthnot's letter and says the handwriting looks familiar. He carelessly mentions it reminds him of "a woman of no importance."
Act II: A Secret Revealed
Gerald's mother, Mrs. Arbuthnot, arrives during an argument between Hester and the other women. Lord Illingworth enters soon after. Gerald introduces his mother to Lord Illingworth. The three have an awkward moment because Mrs. Arbuthnot doesn't approve of Illingworth's offer to Gerald. Lord Illingworth leaves, and Lady Hunstanton calls everyone to her music room. However, Illingworth asks to stay behind to speak with Mrs. Arbuthnot.
Here, a big secret is revealed: Gerald is the son of Mrs. Arbuthnot and Lord Illingworth, who was once known as George Harford. Years ago, they had a child together, but George Harford refused to marry Mrs. Arbuthnot. He offered to support her financially, but Mrs. Arbuthnot refused because he wouldn't marry her. She chose to raise her son alone, which was very difficult and caused her to face judgment from society.
Mrs. Arbuthnot is still very bitter towards Illingworth. She begs him to leave her son alone, saying that after twenty years of being a mother, Gerald is all she has. She doesn't want Gerald to work for his father, but Illingworth argues that Gerald should be able to choose his own future. Gerald then enters, and Lord Illingworth tells him and his mother that Gerald has all the qualities he wants in a secretary. Illingworth asks Mrs. Arbuthnot for any other reason to object to Gerald's opportunity. Not wanting to reveal the truth about Gerald's father, Mrs. Arbuthnot says she has no other reason.
Act III: The Truth Comes Out
Act III begins with Gerald and Lord Illingworth talking about Mrs. Arbuthnot. Gerald speaks highly of his mother and wonders why she never told him about his father. Lord Illingworth agrees that she is a great woman but suggests that great women can sometimes limit young men's dreams. Lord Illingworth then talks cynically about society and marriage, saying he has never married and that Gerald will have a new life with him.
Soon, the other guests arrive. Lord Illingworth entertains them with his strong opinions on many topics, like comedy, tragedy, and society. His views are often against what is usually accepted, which excites his audience. Mrs. Arbuthnot says she wouldn't want to share his views. During a discussion about women who have made mistakes, she strongly disagrees with Lady Hunstanton, saying that ruining a woman's life is unforgivable. When the group breaks up, Lord Illingworth and Mrs. Allonby go to look at the moon. Gerald tries to follow, but his mother stops him and asks him to take her home. Gerald says he must say goodbye to Lord Illingworth first and also reveals that he will be going to India with him at the end of the month.
Mrs. Arbuthnot is left alone with Hester, and they continue their conversation about women. Mrs. Arbuthnot is upset by Hester's belief that children suffer for their parents' mistakes. Hester goes to find Gerald. Gerald returns alone and is frustrated by his mother's continued disapproval of his new opportunity, which he sees as a way to earn his mother's respect and Hester's love. Remembering Hester's views, Mrs. Arbuthnot decides to tell her son the truth about his birth and her past with Lord Illingworth. She tells the story as if it happened to someone else, describing the pain that women who are betrayed face. Gerald remains unaffected.
Then, Hester enters, very upset, and runs to Gerald, saying that Lord Illingworth has "horribly insulted" her (he tried to kiss her). Gerald is furious and almost attacks Illingworth. His mother stops him by finally telling him the truth: Lord Illingworth is his father. After this shocking revelation, Gerald takes his mother home, and Hester leaves on her own.
Act IV: A New Beginning
Act IV opens in Mrs. Arbuthnot's sitting room. Gerald is writing a letter to his father, asking him to marry Mrs. Arbuthnot. Lady Hunstanton and Mrs. Allonby visit, but the maid tells them Mrs. Arbuthnot has a headache and cannot see anyone. Gerald tells his mother that he has decided not to be his father's secretary. He has asked Lord Illingworth to come to their house at 4 o'clock to propose marriage to her.
When Mrs. Arbuthnot enters, Gerald tells her everything he has done. Mrs. Arbuthnot is very upset and says his father must not enter her house. They argue about her marrying Gerald's father. Gerald believes it's her duty, but Mrs. Arbuthnot refuses, saying she won't make a joke of marriage by marrying a man she dislikes. She explains how she bravely faced the difficulties of being a single mother and dedicated her life to raising her son. Hester overhears this and runs to Mrs. Arbuthnot. Hester says she has realized that God's law is love and offers to use her wealth to take care of Gerald and be a mother to Mrs. Arbuthnot. After making sure Mrs. Arbuthnot will live with them, Gerald and Hester go to the garden.
The maid announces Lord Illingworth's arrival. He pushes past the doorway and enters the house. He approaches Mrs. Arbuthnot, saying he has decided to provide money and property for Gerald. Mrs. Arbuthnot simply points to Gerald and Hester in the garden and tells Lord Illingworth that she no longer needs help from anyone but her son and his future wife. Illingworth then sees Gerald's letter and reads it. Lord Illingworth claims that he is willing to marry Mrs. Arbuthnot to be with his son, even if it means giving up his dream of being a foreign ambassador.
Mrs. Arbuthnot refuses to marry him and tells Lord Illingworth that she hates him, explaining that her hatred for him and her love for Gerald make each other stronger. She also tells him that Hester made Gerald dislike him. Lord Illingworth then admits defeat, saying Mrs. Arbuthnot was just someone he had a brief relationship with. Mrs. Arbuthnot then slaps him with his own glove before he can say something hurtful about Gerald.
Lord Illingworth, shocked and insulted, leaves after a final look at his son. Mrs. Arbuthnot falls onto the sofa, crying. When Gerald and Hester enter, she cries out for Gerald, calling him her boy, and asks Hester if she would have her as a mother. Hester assures her that she would. Gerald sees his father's glove on the floor and asks who visited. Mrs. Arbuthnot replies, "A man of no importance."
Past Performances of the Play
After its first run in London, the play went on tour around Britain in late 1893. Lewis Waller played Lord Illingworth in this tour. The play returned to London's West End in 1907, staged again by Herbert Beerbohm Tree at His Majesty's Theatre. Tree once again played Illingworth, and Marion Terry played Mrs. Arbuthnot. This production ran for 45 performances.
There have been many other revivals over the years, including at the Savoy Theatre in 1953, the Vaudeville Theatre in 1967 and 2017, the Chichester Festival in 1978, the Abbey Theatre in Dublin in 1996, and the Barbican in London in 1991 and the Haymarket in 2003.
The play has also been performed in New York. Maurice Barrymore and Rose Coghlan starred in a production in 1893–94, and Holbrook Blinn and Margaret Anglin played the main roles in 1916. The first Australian production was in 1897.
Movie and Radio Versions
A Woman of No Importance has been made into a movie at least four times: a British film in 1921, a German film in 1936, a French film in 1937, and an Argentine film in 1945.
The BBC (British Broadcasting Corporation) has also created six adaptations of the play: one for television in 1948 and five for radio (in 1924, 1949, 1955, 1960, and 1992). Another television version was broadcast by Independent Television in 1960, starring Griffith Jones and Gwen Watford.
See Also
- Oscar Wilde
- Lady Windermere's Fan
- The Importance of Being Earnest
Images for kids
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Act II: Dr Daubeny and Lady Hunstanton
