"The Importance Of Being Earnest" by Oscar Wilde.
One of the wittiest plays ever to be written and performed. "A Trivial Comedy For Serious People" isn’t quite as catchy a title even though this was what this play was also known as. Oscar Wilde’s classic story of deceit, triviality, society etiquette and marriage…. oh and bunburying!
Jack wishes to marry Algernon’s cousin, Gwendolen, but first he must convince her mother, the fearsome Lady Bracknell, of the respectability of his parents and his past. For Jack, however, this is not as easy as it sounds, having started life abandoned in a handbag at Victoria station. “A handbag?”… yes, you heard right, a handbag!
There are so many classic and witty lines and one liners in this play, that you need to listen carefully to get them all.
This cast has been chosen well because they show that they all fit together like the pieces of a jigsaw; if one were missing, or there was another in its' place, it would not look and sound right. Not one actor outdid the other and it was a joy just to sit back and watch the production as a whole.
Matthew Thomason (John Worthing, aka Jack), Daniel Potts (Algernon Moncrieff) who bears a more than passing resemblance of another Daniel, Daniel Radcliffe, Charlotte Thomas (Gwendolen Fairfax), Lowenna Quantick (Cecily Cardew), Lady Bracknell is played marvellously by the wonderful Carol Parkinson, Cynthia Marsh (Miss Prism), David Dunford (Rev Canon Chasuble), Bernard Whelan (Lane) and Rupert Butt (Merriman).
There was a lovely feel of adoration between Miss Prism and the Rev Canon Chasuble, and I love the aloofness in the attraction between Cecily and Algernon. Lady Bracknell was everything that I wanted from the character and the giddiness of attraction between John and Gwendolen just fizzed. The two manservants were brilliantly at opposites, character wise.
Every character had something that you could pick out as being a favourite part of their role, and you don't get that very often from just one play, a tribute to the wonderful writing of Wilde.
Directed by Nicole Driver, assisted by Christopher Collins, they thought of everything. The sandwiches and the drinks were there - one of my pet hates is when there's a drink scene or some food and it's not there. How can you present a realistic food and drink scene if there's no wine in the glass, if there's no tea in the teapot, no milk in the milk jug, no sandwiches - which is an integral part of the play and of Algernon's character. It was all there in plain sight, and I love that addition which some Directors omit from the plays they direct.
The Set design was excellent, I'd love to tell you who was responsible for this area of the presentation but the programmes had not arrived for opening night. That said, the set was wonderfully extravagant and opulent.
The lighting design is by Nick Gale. Simple wins the game again with basic fade in and outs and that is all that is needed for a play such as this.
Sound design by Gareth Morris, again from an audience member's viewpoint, simplicity ruled the day with a gentle soundscape of piano music for when Algernon was playing in the other room.
Max Bromley is in charge of the wonderful costumes for this production, and is a force behind this show. I absolutely adored every item of clothing, from Algie's striped blazer and his first suit, which could have come straight out of an Enid Blyton novel, Jack's slightly steampunk mourning suit, to the gorgeous attire for the ladies. So classy and a collection that must be nominated for the best costume design, along with Max, surely?
A slick stage management by Keith Parkinson.
Wilde has always been one of my favourite writers because of his way with words. There's a wonderful show of arrogance in many of his quotes for his characters.
“If I am occasionally a little over-dressed, I make up for it by being always immensely over-educated.”
“I never travel without my diary. One should always have something sensational to read in the train.”
And then Lady Bracknell has some corkers...
“To lose one parent, Mr. Worthing, may be regarded as a misfortune; to lose both looks like carelessness.”
“I do not know whether there is anything peculiarly exciting in the air of this particular part of Hertfordshire, but the number of engagements that go on seems to me considerably above the proper average that statistics have laid down for our guidance.”
I just love the richness of the comedy in Wilde's work, and this cast and crew bring out that richness in their acting and delivery. I've seen this play on several occasions but tonight it was like I was watching it for the first time.
It's a longer run than normal, so as to give everyone the chance to catch this brilliant presentation of one of Oscar Wilde's best and most beloved of comedies, so no bunburying allowed, get your tickets while you still can as "The Importance Of Being Earnest" is here until Saturday 16 December.
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