Staging

Question 1

Gwendolen’s costuming?

Answer 1

• Luxurious Victorian gown, excessive accessories, frills, bright colours, hair up
• Should look almost silly next to Cecily in order to emphasise the excess of upper classes

Question 2

Algernon’s costuming?

Answer 2

• Bright colours, formal, hats pocket squares mixed with traditional waistcoat
• waistcoat represents the responsibilities he is forced to fulfil contrasted with the bold elements representing his ‘bunburying’

Question 3

Lady Bracknell’s costuming?

Answer 3

• Dressed similarly to Gwendolen but without the excessive embellishments, muted and toned down colour
• muted colour representative of her severity while still trying to show her status

Question 4

Jack Worthing’s costuming?

Answer 4

• completely traditional black and white waistcoat - slicked back hair, moustache, maybe top hat
• Him attempting to fulfil his role as a sophisticated guardian

Question 5

What is the significance of the men clasping hands?

Answer 5

‘Clasps hands with Algernon’
- Excessive visual comedy, subversion of gender and patriarchy