First introduced to the world in 1895, Oscar Wilde’s An Ideal Husband is a gripping and rib-tickling story of blackmail and political corruption. Now, it’s La Boite’s turn to tackle the renowned play, which has been given a slightly more modern makeover by award-winning playwright Lewis Treston. Swapping the drawing rooms of late-Victorian-era high-society London for the halls of Australian parliament more than 25 years ago, Lewis combines Wilde’s iconic witticisms with a dose of 90s nostalgia.
Set in 1996 (when John Howard replaced Paul Keating as Prime Minister), this adaptation asks why Australian politics constantly fails to keep up with the people it is supposed to represent. The social satire follows a handful of hilarious characters who love a good gossip sesh, played by homegrown theatre stars Christen O’Leary, Emily Burton, Will Carseldine, Billy Fogarty, Patrick Jhanur, Kevin Spink, Hsiao-Ling Tang and Kevin Hides. With a bounty of talented theatre players, a killer 90s soundtrack and a dash of classic rom-com goodness, this is one show that makes politics seem not boring (for once).
Want to travel back in time to the political landscape of Canberra in 1996? An Ideal Husband will play at La Boite at Kelvin Grove from July 18 to August 6. Grab your tickets to this scintillating show at the La Boite website.
This article was written in partnership with our friends at La Boite Theatre.