The Importance of Being Earnest, a Trivial Comedy for Serious People

The Importance of Being Earnest is arguably the most well-known of Oscar Wilde’s plays. Comedic in tone, it takes to task the absurdities of the British upper class. The dialogue requires rapid-fire delivery by eccentric characters.

The play follows the tangled lives of two young English gents who have invented alter egos to enable them to excuse themselves from situations they might find unpleasant. Joining the intrigue are two desirable young women who have formed a deep fascination for the name ‘Earnest’, the formidable Lady Bracknell, a social climber of the first order, the scholarly governess, haunted by her past, and the upright pastor who’s sermons go on, and on  – and you have the recipe for a play that is both hilarious and enduring.

Director Stephen Bennie says he was thrilled to direct a play with such a witty and fresh script, “My vision for this play was that it be a celebration of all things British, from iconic British music to the beautiful English countryside, and sumptuous Victorian costumes.” It was easy to see Stephen’s hand on the overall production, which, combined with a powerful cast, created an excellent show.

CGTC used stunning animated drawings by David Bennie on the large cyclorama at the start of each of the three acts to indicate Algernon’s London flat, then Jack’s garden, and drawing room at Woolton. The sets were further enhanced with suitable furniture and props.

Ali Samaei as Jack Worthing and Nicholas Sarlos-Welsh as Algernon Moncrieff were delightfully energetic leads playing off each other with superb chemistry. They carried the audience along and hit each note and joke precisely. Both are charming and charismatic. Ali is a graduate of the National Institute of Dramatic Arts (NIDA). Nicolas, outside of his current university studies, has performed in numerous musicals and plays.

Rebecca Cecil and Phoenix Bennett as the Hon. Gwendolen Fairfax and Cecily Cardew were delightful foils, as the ladies with a fascination for men called Earnest. Rebecca is returning to performing after a hiatus behind the scenes, which is surprising, given her appeal and confidence in the role. Phoenix is a recent graduate of the Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts (WAAPA) and effectively differentiated her role from that of Gwendolen. The two ladies also worked remarkably well together.

The central roles of Lady Bracknell and Miss Prism, the governess, were played by Julie Murphy and Fiona Hare, respectively. Both ladies have a wealth of performance experience behind them, as do Mark Scholem as Reverend Chasuble and Stephen Keen as servants Merriman and Lane. All of them chewed the scenery, stopping just short of going over the top, drawing out every piece of humour in Wilde’s comedic script.

The lighting plot for the play was also good, enhancing each scene and drawing attention to the most significant action on stage. Costume and sound were also suitable and well-designed.

Oscar Wilde was a flamboyant and controversial figure in London society. Not long after The Importance of Being Earnest’s success, he was imprisoned for homosexuality.

“The Importance of Being Earnest is a beautifully written and neatly constructed comedy. It is not a satire but a celebration of a way of life designed entirely for amusement. Since its first performance, it has been unfailingly successful on stage, and it is a tribute to its excellence that it is so frequently revived.”

Congratulations to CGTC for an exceptional and highly enjoyable production.

Jane Court