Lady Windermere's Fan (15 Sep. 1985)

Like "An Ideal Husband", "Lady Windermere's Fan" explores the nature of marital trust and the pitfalls of perceiving others in an ideal and simplistic manner. It does so with more depth and gravity than "An Ideal Husband" and this fine production particularly emphasizes the serious nature of the play. Wilde's sharp witticisms abound, but he clearly is aiming for a lot more than amusing his audience.

It's played to perfection by Helena Little, Tim Woodward and Stephanie Turner. The BBC could have cast big theatrical names, but instead made the admirable choice of casting lesser known names based upon their formidable talents.

The result is a moving and powerful drama well worth your time. Without any memorable cinematic version of "Lady Windermere's Fan", this production is an important record of Wilde at his best.