Chaincourt Theatre
Chaincourt Theater - Summer semester 2025 production
What foibles are forgivable?
In An Ideal Husband, celebrated Irish playwright Oscar Wilde explores issues of far-reaching consequence: Is putting people on a pedestal advisable, especially when love is involved? Do we compromise ourselves when we covet power? For what errors in judgement can we pardon those we love; and how should the public judge such missteps? In the play, Evelyn and Gertrude Chiltern are confronted with these questions when the manipulative Mrs. Cheveley threatens to reveal to the press to what and to whom they really owe their wealth and standing in society.
Just as we debate the veracity of “Cancel Culture” as well as the moral decency of those with power, Oscar Wilde’s characters often occupy a grey zone. In An Ideal Husband, these perennial subject matters provoke not only thought and response but also provide a vehicle to entertain an audience.
Experienced cast and crew ready to take on the task
Under the direction of James Fisk, the Chaincourt Theatre Company has adapted the 1894 Victorian comedy to the here-and-now. Both on and off stage, the theatre group is made up of students from various university faculties as well as from alumni of the English department. Although most of the cast and crew are returning members, a number of fresh faces are also making their début. All have taken it upon themselves to deliver the audience an engaging evening of entertainment. Performances are in English and will take place in the “Nebengebäude” next to the Main Building on Campus Westend.
Performances: Opening night on 11 July; additional showings on 12, 17, 18, and 19 July. Curtain is 7:30 p.m.
Tickets: 10€/5€ (reduced); available one hour before curtain (no advanced sales or reservations)
Location: Goethe University, Campus Westend, IG Farbenhaus-Nebengebäude, room NG 1.741
Contact: James Fisk (Managing Artistic Director) fisk@em.uni-frankfurt.de