The Importance of Being Earnest

Oscar Wilde’s satirical comedy, The Importance of Being Earnest is beloved by audiences even today because its wit and deliciously convoluted plot never dates. Even so, it takes skill and talent to make the most of the Wilde style and rapid-fire dialogue. Adelaide Youth Theatre is bursting with talent and the performers in the company’s short December season of Wilde’s enduring play are up to the task.

Eight enormously talented young actors from the Youth Theatre’s senior cast are guided by the experienced direction of Independent Theatre’s Rob Croser and supported by guest artist, Sheree Sellick as a wonderful Lady Bracknell.

This is a story of devious deception, where two young men pretend to be someone else to secure the affections of young ladies. Enter Lady Bracknell, whose rigid and witty take on correct society helps render their convoluted plans into hilarious disarray. At the same time, Wilde has his usual satirical dig at the hypocrisies of the day.

Laurence Boxhall owns the stage as Algernon Moncrieff, Lady Bracknell’s devious nephew; an excellent and very funny performance. It is difficult to play the straight man to such a vivid character as Algernon, but Benji Riggs is terrific as naïve Jack Worthing, a man whose plans to marry are beset by twists and turns.

The young ladies are delightful. Camryn Jordans is gorgeously effusive and sweet as Cecily and extremely funny. Fiona Fraser is sophisticated and controlled as Gwendolyn, Jack’s love interest.

As prim Miss Prism, Georgia Broomhall is perfect. Jamie Hornsby depicts a fine Reverend Chasable, showing his besotted longing for Miss Prism in his every expression.

As the long-suffering butlers, Ben Francis as Lane and Liam Holmes as Merriman don’t need dialogue to convey their feelings; very good performances.

Sheree Sellick is the glue that draws the performances into a fine ensemble production. Her Lady Bracknell is wickedly witty and snobbish, a formidable grande dame, silencing any dissent with an imperious stare.

Costumes are courtesy of Independent Theatre and are excellent. The simple and effective set is made up of sparse furnishings and painted screens, depicting the individual settings of the three acts. Lighting is basic but good.

Unfortunately the venue lets the production down a little. The very old Barr Smith Theatre is beautiful and visually an ideal setting for a period piece, but it is acoustically poor. The younger female voices, in particular, are sometimes difficult to hear, particularly when actors move upstage or turn away from the audience. Noise from outside the auditorium is also intrusive. However, this is a minor problem overall, because the performances are so well done.

With The Importance of Being Earnest, Adelaide Youth Theatre continues to display the wealth of talent it has amongst its young performers.

Lesley Reed

Images: Sheree Sellick (Lady Bracknell) and Benji Riggs (Jack) & Benji Riggs (Jack) and Fiona Fraser (Gwendolyn).