WILD ABOUT WILDE: Ray Fallon of Lawrenceville, left, and Hannah Rapaport-Stein of West Windsor star in Oscar Wilde’s “An Ideal Husband” at Kelsey Theatre on weekends January 20 through 29.

Mercer County Community College’s Kelsey Theatre kicks off 2023 with Shakespeare 70’s production of Oscar Wilde’s An Ideal Husband on weekends January 20 through 29. Kelsey Theatre is located on the Mercer County Community College campus, 1200 Old Trenton Road in West Windsor.

One of Wilde’s final plays, An Ideal Husband was first produced in 1895 and combines wit, philosophy, and drama in a way that is still relevant today. Government minister Sir Robert Chiltem is respectable and well-off, with a loving wife. When the conniving Mrs. Cheveley appears with evidence of a past misdeed and threatens to blackmail him, his best friend tries, through a number of comedic entanglements, to lead Sir Robert and his family out of harm. But there are others who have desires and ambitions all their own.

The play touches on feminism, blackmail, political corruption, morality and mistrust, love and forgiveness, all with Wilde’s wit.

Performances are January 20, 21, 27, and 28 at 8 p.m.; and January 22 and 29 at 2 p.m. Tickets are $20-$22. Visit KelseyTheatre.org or call (609) 570-3333.