Chapel Hill
The Importance of Being Earnest
PlayMakers RepWhat’s with the name Earnest? Or is it Ernest? With the play’s male characters donning it as easily as a suit and female characters swooning over it, you’d think it topped a popular-baby-names poll of the romantic genre in 1895. Subtitled “A Trivial Comedy for Serious People,” Oscar Wilde’s most well-known play, like many of his worksincluding An Ideal Husband, currently playing at Deep Dish Theaterexplores Victorian society’s manners and hypocrisies. When he’s not in the mood to complete his obligations, Londoner Algernon Moncrieff goes “bunburying,” scurrying off to the countryside for relaxation. His friend Ernest soon confesses to leading a double life as well, taking the name Jack when visiting his young country ward Cecily Cardew. Performances run through March 21. Visit www.playmakersrep.org.Sarah Ewald
Chapel Hill
London Philharmonic Orchestra
Memorial Hall, UNC CampusContinuing its tradition of bringing in the top ensembles in a variety of forms, the Carolina Performing Arts Series hosts the London Philharmonic Orchestra for two concerts this week. Tickets to Tuesday’s set featuring Beethoven’s Violin Concerto in D Major are sold out, but you’ve still got a shot tonight. Two roiling Shostakovich compositions bookend Ravel’s Piano Concerto in G Major. Tickets are $10 for UNC students and $75-$125 for the general public. The baton of celebrated London Philharmonic conductor Vladimir Jurowski drops at 7:30 p.m. See www.carolinaperformingarts.org, and act fast. Margaret Hair
