The Importance of Being Earnest is a play by Oscar Wilde. First performed on 14 February 1895 at the St James`s Theatre in London, it is a farcical comedy in which the protagonists maintain fictitious personae to escape burdensome social obligations. Working within the social conventions of late Victorian London, the play`s major themes are the triviality with which it treats institutions as serious as marriage, and the resulting satire of Victorian ways. 

Some contemporary reviews praised the play`s humour and the culmination of Wilde`s artistic career, while others were cautious about its lack of social messages. Its high farce and witty dialogue have helped make The Importance of Being Earnest Wilde`s most enduringly popular play.