An Ideal Husband
Oscar Wilde
Set against the backdrop of political corruption and high-society intrigue, the play follows Sir Robert Chiltern, a prestigious government official whose career is threatened by blackmail. The villainous Mrs. Cheveley possesses evidence of a youthful financial sin, forcing Robert to choose between his career and his wife’s idealized view of him. Supported by his dandy friend Lord Goring, the play questions whether an ideal person can exist in a world of compromise. It is a sharp-witted exploration of public versus private morality, blending suspenseful drama with Wilde’s trademark paradoxical humor and social commentary.
Sir Robert Chiltern: An ambitious, respected politician whose past ethical lapse threatens to destroy his career and his wife’s idealized perception of his character and integrity. Lord Goring: An idle, witty dandy who serves as Wilde’s mouthpiece, using his apparent superficiality and cleverness to navigate the scandal and save his friend’s reputation. Mrs. Cheveley: A manipulative and glamorous blackmailer who uses a secret from Robert's past to exert political influence, representing the predatory side of Victorian high society.
First Performance: 1895, at Haymarket Theatre, London
A critical and popular triumph; praised for its topicality regarding political ethics and its sophisticated comedic dialogue.
Original Actors: Lewis Waller, Julia Neilson, Charles Hawtrey