The Importance of Being Earnest - Spoiler Free Review

3.5 out of 5 stars

Tickets available: https://www.trybooking.com/CZZEY

The Importance of Being Earnest is a play by Oscar Wilde, the last of his four drawing-room plays, following Lady Windermere's Fan, A Woman of No Importance and An Ideal Husband. It is a farcical comedy based in the 1890’s depicting the tangled affairs of two young men about town who lead double lives to evade unwanted social obligations, satirizing the conventions and manners of Victorian society.

Many a theatre company, varying between community through professional have attempted Wilde’s drawing-room plays, and the latest rendition is currently in season by The Strathalbyn Players. The Chapel Theatre in Strathalbyn is a cozy, intimate theatre with a true community vibe, complete with 8 stackable chairs surrounding rectangle tables, encouraging discussion among audience members prior to the show and during intervals. Having a closed curtain prior to the show, between each Act, and after the show prevented unsanctioned photos of the set, keeping it under wraps for each new audience to experience, so I won’t spoil the scenery, other than to mention the AI printed backdrops.

As well as designing the set, Vaughan Wilson is the Director of this production and has done a great job in presenting Wilde’s work with hard work and fervour. Wilson has found a great cast that has a profound understanding of their characters, the text, and the subtext. Together, they present an enjoyable 3 hours, which the audience thoroughly enjoyed.

Leading the cast and carrying much of the show on their shoulders is Desmond Plane as John Worthing and Ethan Hodgson as Algernon Moncrieff. Together, they bounced off each other with wit, charm, and quick reactions. Equally, their accent work was top notch, firmly setting the location of the story in London. Considering much of the first Act is these two characters, there is a lot of pressure on them as actors to set the scene of not only the show, but also the mood of the evening, and they achieved both with spades.

Playing opposite the leading men is Chelsea Sims as Gwendolyn Fairfax and Grace Colliver as Cecily Cardew. Sims’ work as Gwendolyn was charismatic and whimsical, noting the farcical and satirical nature of the production in her character and reactions. Colliver’s naivety nature in Cecily was nice to witness. The nature in reciting the dialogue rather than living it was a little obvious in places. There was some dialogue mishaps between these two characters, which is natural, even in professional circles, and I’m sure further revision has since been on the cards to prevent a repeat performance.

Heather Bean as Lady Bracknell was simply brilliant. The mannerisms displayed in the upper-class antics, including the change of mind nature once finding out there is a substantial sum of money on the line was hilarious and entertaining to witness. Bean’s accent work also deserves a mention, ensuring the continuity of the geographical nature of this play.

Sharon Picot as Miss Prism, and Peter Hackworth as Dr. Chasuble were suitably enamouring in their supporting character roles. Picot, as Prism was a suitably perfect governess that would give other governess’ in literary a run for their money. Hackworth’s portrayal of Chasuble and the infatuation he has for Miss Prism was delightful to watch.

Paul Kotz as Algernon’s manservant, Jeanette Leonard as the Butler, and Hayley Marsden as the Housekeeper round out the cast, ensuring the story continued to flow through the three scenes across the three Acts.

There are some fascinating antics that have clearly been developed during rehearsals between the cast and their director, and it is evident under the lights that they have all worked hard on this production.

If you have some free time next weekend, pop along to Strathalbyn Players and enjoy some time away from the 21st Century.