Overview
- Female: 1
- Male: 1
Context
This lighthearted exchange occurs early in Act 1, immediately following the grand entrance of the enigmatic Mrs. Cheveley, whose unexpected arrival at the party has already unsettled Lady Chiltern. Lord Goring enters late to the fashionable gathering and is instantly cornered by Mabel Chiltern, who playfully takes him to task for his tardiness. While the rest of the high-society guests circulate and discuss politics, their interaction serves as an oasis of sharp wit and romantic sparring.
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Mabel Chiltern. You are very late!
Lord Goring. Have you missed me?
Mabel Chiltern. Awfully!
Lord Goring. Then I am sorry I did not stay away longer. I like being missed.
Mabel Chiltern. How very selfish of you!
Lord Goring. I am very selfish.
Mabel Chiltern. You are always telling me of your bad qualities, Lord Goring.
Lord Goring. I have only told you half of them as yet, Miss Mabel!
Mabel Chiltern. Are the others very bad?
Lord Goring. Quite dreadful! When I think of them at night I go to sleep at once.
Mabel Chiltern. Well, I delight in your bad qualities. I wouldn’t have you part with one of them.
Lord Goring. How very nice of you! But then you are always nice. By the way, I want to ask you a
question, Miss Mabel. Who brought Mrs. Cheveley here? That woman in heliotrope, who has just gone
out of the room with your brother?
Mabel Chiltern. Oh, I think Lady Markby brought her. Why do you ask?
Lord Goring. I haven’t seen her for years, that is all.
Mabel Chiltern. What an absurd reason!
Lord Goring. All reasons are absurd.
Mabel Chiltern. What sort of a woman is she?
Lord Goring. Oh! a genius in the daytime and a beauty at night!
Mabel Chiltern. I dislike her already.
Lord Goring. That shows your admirable good taste.
Oscar Wilde An Ideal Husband Act 1
[Full text is available on Project Gutenberg https://www.gutenberg.org/files/885/885-h/885-h.htm]
Performance Tips
- Maintain an agile vocal rhythm; Wilde’s dialogue relies on crisp phrasing and swift tops on punchlines, so avoid lingering self-indulgently on the wit.
- Use visual body language and physical space to play the courtship game—Mabel can use her fan or posture to mock-chastise, while Goring should project relaxed, deceptive ease.
- Make the transition to Mrs. Cheveley unmistakable: Goring’s tone should register a distinct shift from frivolous banter to sharp, covert concern when he asks about
Emotional Beat Breakdown
1. The Art of Being Missed
What shifts: Playful scolding transforms into shared, comfortable flirting as Mabel calls out Goring's tardiness.
Character objectives: Mabel seeks to punish Goring charmingly for making her wait, while Goring aims to turn her annoyance into a compliment to feed his ego.
Performance note: Keep the banter light and buoyant; Goring should deliver his self-absorbed retorts with an effortless smile rather than true vanity.
2. Delighting in Bad Qualities
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