Written By
Oscar Wilde
Where and When
2nd – 4th May 1968 @ The Church House, Wimborne
The Plot
Oscar Wilde’s brilliantly clever comedic masterpiece, The Importance of Being Earnest, was once called by critic W.H. Auden, “the only pure verbal opera in English.” Earnest tells the story of two young gentlemen in London, who each live a double-life, creating elaborate deceptions to find some balance in their lives. John Worthing escapes the burdens of responsibility to have an exciting life in the city, pretending to be his fictitious younger brother Ernest. Algernon Moncrieff, meanwhile, has invented a convenient invalid, Bunbury, whom he uses as an excuse to gallivant off to the country whenever he pleases. When John falls in love with Algernon’s cousin, Gwendolen, he is determined to come clean, but when Gwendolen reveals she can only love a man named Ernest, it somewhat complicates things. When Algernon discovers John’s secret and decides to visit John’s pretty little ward in the country, posing as the debauched “Ernest,” the situation gets entirely more complicated! Hijinks ensue, and the two gentlemen and their ladies are in for more than they ever anticipated when formidable Lady Bracknell, Gwendolen’s mother, begins sleuthing around to uncover the far-fetched truth. Oscar Wilde’s brilliant comedy captures with wit and charm the absurdity and delight of the Victorian “age of surfaces” (as Lady Bracknell calls it,) while capturing the struggle of four passionate lovers trying to conform to expectations and, in the most roundabout and delightfully funny way possible, love who they wish and live how they want.
Cast
- Lane – Arthur Brooks
- Algernon Moncrieff – Christopher Hughes
- John Worthing J. P. – Nick Carter
- Lady Bracknell – Rita Stuckey
- Hon. Gwendolen Fairfax – Christine Spink
- Cecily Cardew – Janine Brockes
- Miss Prism – Muriel Brooks
- Rev. Canon Chasuble – Stephen Ware
- Merriman – Ian Raeburn
Creative Team
- Director – L. H. Mottram
- Stage Manager – Jeff Turner
- Set Design and construction – Jeff Turner
- Lighting and Effects – Jeff Turner
- Assistant Effects – Ian Raeburn
- Wardrobe Mistress – Marilyn Goddard
- Prompt – Thelma Dryden
- House Managers – Tim Eling and Robert Tomlinson
Gallery
Reviews
No doubt they were wilde
Except that both are comedies written by Irishmen, The Playboy of the Western World and The Importance of Being Earnest have little in common. Synge’s playboy was the orginal choice of Wimborne Drama Club for their spring production but on finding that another local group had made the same selection, they abandoned it and opted for Earnest.
The production was staged on Thursday, Friday and Saturday at Church House, Wimborne. Wilde’s drawing room comedy is not one of the easiset for amateurs, but the Wimborne club gave a creditable performance. Some of the witticisms may have gone astray but the play is so loaded with them it does little damage.
Christopher Hughes made Algernon Moncrieff something of a likeable dandy, which no doubt he was. He used his lines with ease – never, in fact, lost for a word. It was rather disappointing to find Algernon’s flat in Half Moon Street down-at-heel, but money is usually a problem for amateur companies, and sartorially Algernon and company made the grade. Algernon’s taste in pictures, not to mention the hanging of them, was a bit of a let-down but it could be that these were once intended for Pegeen Mike’s cosy shebeen in the western world.
Nick Carter as the dim John Worthing J. P, seemed a little unsure of himself at first but perhaps this was just what the producer intended. He soon established himself and one warmed to him as the play developed. Lady Bracknell, a real battleaxe of a woman, was given the full treatment by Rita Stuckey and no one could complain that her ladyship failed to make her voice or her presence felt.
Christine Spink was an attractive Gwendolen and Janine Brockes as Cecil Cardew also made a favourable impression. Muriel Brooks and Stephen Ware as the governess and the rector hit if off nicely and predictably ended up in each others arms. Ian Raeburn was a competent butler, and Arthur Brooks as the man-servant served well.
The play was directed by L. H. Mottram. Assiting in the prduction were Jeff Turner, Ian Raeburn, Marilyn Goddard, Thelma Dryden, Tim Eling and Robert Tomlinson.
Wilde’s wit remains fresh
ALthough it is so well known and has been presented so often Oscar Wilde’s The Importance of Being Earnest never seems to date. Its brilliantly witty dialogue sweeps it along, and the only dangers the players have to face are the inevitable comparisons with the great ones who have made the leading roles peculiarly their own.
Full credit therefore to Wimborne Drama Club who under the expert direction of Mr L. H. Mottram, stage an ‘at home evening’ production on the tiny stage of Church House last week to the obvious pleasure of their patrons.
Completely at ease in the part, Chrisopher Hughes gave an excellent performance as Algernon Moncrieff, and Nick Carter, though rather more tense, played soundly as John Worthin.
Janine Brockes was a delightful Cecil Cardew, and teamed well with Christine Spink, who played the Hon. Gwedolen Fairfax. Rita Stuckey was an austere Lady Bracknell with a perfect Edit Evans voice in the lower register; Stephen Ware was a convincingly dithery Canon Chasuble; and Muriel Brooks made her points as Miss Prism, although she would have been greatly helped by a much older make-up.
Arthur Brooks and Ian Raeburn gave adequate support as the butlers, LAne and Merriman.
Jeff Turner not only stage managed but also designed and made the set and controlled the lighting and effects, assisted with the latter by Ian Raeburn. Marilyn Goddard was wardrobe mistress; Thelma Dryden prompted; and Tim Eling and Robert Tomlinson acted as house managers.
Programme
