The purpose of reading critical reviews of the film will be to highlight the ways in which the critics extol or lambaste the director's choices, and to compare those choices to Wilde’s own, much sparer stage directions. In so doing, you will further build on your awareness of how stage directions function as an important element within the genre of Drama. Writing a summary and response of what you read will provide you with an even more developed foundation for your thesis in the upcoming comparison/contrast essay. In addition, the quotations you cite will provide you with textual evidence to support your claims.

Directions

1. Read the following from the 2002 film adaptation of The Importance of Being Earnest
   • Reviews – The Importance of Being Earnest
   • As you read, identify relevant passages from each review dealing with differences between Wilde’s stage directions and the choices made by Oliver Parker, the film director. While doing so, take note of the general opinion the reviewers have of these changes.
   • Ask yourself if you agree with the reviewers' opinions, where there is an intersection between Wilde's and the film director's stage direction decisions, and where the reviewers observed changes that you did not in your 5.5 assignment.
2. Write a 200-300 word summary of and response to the reviewers’ opinions of the director’s decisions in relation to Wilde’s stage play directions.
   • Begin with a thesis statement that puts forth the film reviewers' overall arguments and whether or not you agree with them.
   • You will then cite from these reviews as you summarize their stances and compare them with your own observations/opinions in each body paragraph.
   • Include MLA 8 in-text citations from at least three of the reviews so as to provide textual evidence for your claims.
   • Include MLA 8 Works Cited entries for the three reviews (and for the written play and film if you cite them).
3. Post your summary