Lady Windermere's Fan
Oscar Wilde
This witty social satire centers on Lady Windermere, who suspects her husband of infidelity with the mysterious Mrs. Erlynne. As she contemplates an affair of her own to retaliate, the play explores themes of sacrifice, the double standards of Victorian morality, and the difference between good and bad women. The plot takes a dramatic turn when the truth of Mrs. Erlynne’s identity is revealed, showing that a woman with a past can possess greater nobility than those in polite society. It is famous for the line "We are all in the gutter, but some of us are looking at the stars."
Lady Windermere: A young, puritanical wife whose rigid sense of morality is challenged when she discovers the complexities of human nature and the true meaning of loyalty. Mrs. Erlynne: A woman with a scandalous past who risks her own social redemption to save her daughter from making a ruinous and life-changing moral mistake. Lord Windermere: A devoted husband who chooses to endure his wife's suspicions and social gossip rather than reveal a painful family secret that would destroy her.
First Performance: 1892, at St James's Theatre, London
A massive commercial hit that proved Wilde could successfully marry high-society comedy with heartfelt domestic melodrama.
Original Actors: George Alexander, Marion Terry, Lily Hanbury