A cast including Michael Benz, Philip Cumbus and Imogen Doel will join David Suchet when he takes to the stage as Lady Bracknell in Oscar Wilde’s The Importance Of Being Earnest at the Vaudeville Theatre in July.
The production, which is directed by Adrian Noble, will play from 24 June (press night 1 July) at the venue.
Joining the Poirot star as the formidable social climber are Benz and Cumbus as John Worthing and Algernon Moncrieff respectively. Downton Abbey’s Benz returns to the London stage following a string of performances, most recently in 2012’s Hamlet at Shakespeare’s Globe, while Cumbus, also a Globe regular, returns to the West End following his 2014 appearance in Jamie Lloyd’s production of Richard III starring Martin Freeman.
The duo will play the two bachelor friends who lead double lives to court the attentions of the desirable Gwendolyn Fairfax and Cecily Cardew in Wilde’s comedy about the social pretensions in Victorian society.
They are joined by Doel and Emily Barber as the objects of their affections. Doel, who was last seen on the London stage in In The Vale Of Health at the Hampstead Theatre, will play Cecily alongside Barber (Cornelius, Finborough Theatre) as Gwendolyn.
Also announced today are fellow cast members Michele Dotrice and Richard O’Callahan. Some Mothers Do Ave ‘Em star Dotrice, who boasts numerous credits for the Royal Shakespeare Company, will take on the role of Miss Prism, while O’Callaghan, best known for his appearances in the Carry On films, will play Reverend Canon Chasuble having previously played the same role in the Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre’s 2009 production of the Wilde classic.
The Importance Of Being Earnest will open at the Vaudeville Theatre following Amelia Bullmore’s comedy Di And Viv And Rose starring Tamzin Outhwaite, Samantha Spiro and Jenna Russell. The Hampstead Theatre transfer will ends its run on 23 May.