The play takes place in London in 1895, and this act is held in Algernon Moncrieff's artistically appointed, luxurious apartment. Someone is playing the piano in a side room. The music stops, and Algernon enters and greets Lane, the butler, who is putting out the settings for an afternoon tea. Algernon asks him if he has prepared the cucumber sandwiches for his aunt, Lady Bracknell, and mentions the inordinate amount of champagne consumed at a dinner held a few nights ago. Lane tells him that servants only drink the champagne in bachelor households. Those of married men have inferior wine. He leaves and then re-enters to announce Mr. Ernest Worthing.
Ernest is also known as Jack and that is how Algernon greets him. Jack tells him that he has come to town to propose.....
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