JackWorthingandAlgernonMoncrieffhavetakentobendingthetruthinordertoaddadashofexcitementtotheirlives.Jackhasinventedanimaginarybrother,Ernest,whomheusesasanexcusetoescapefromhisdullhomeinthecountryandfrolicintown.Algernonusesasimilartechnique,onlyinreverse:Hisimaginaryfriend,Bunbury,providesaconvenientandfrequentmethodoftakingadventuresinthecountry.However,theirdeceptionseventuallycrosspaths,resultinginaseriesofcrisesthatthreatentospoiltheirromanticpursuits:JackofhisloveGwendolenFairfax,andAlgernonofhisbelleCecilyCardew.