Oscar Wilde´s audacious drama of social scandal centres around the revelation of Mrs Arbuthnot´s long-concealed secret. A house party is in full swing at Lady Hunstanton´s country home, when it is announced that Gerald Arbuthnot has been appointed secretary to the sophisticated, witty Lord Illingworth. Gerald´s mother stands in the way of his appointment, but fears to tell him why, for who will believe Lord Illingworth to be a man of no importance?