The Importance of Being Earnest

Any Society choosing this very ambitious play has numerous monumental problems to contend with. Firstly it is one of Oscar Wilde’s most regularly performed plays, who can forget Lady Bracknell as played by the wonderful Edith Evans? Secondly this piece is set in three acts, each requiring a different setting. Thirdly, the case requires five men of a variety of ages, a problem for many societies. However, Haslingfield Little Theatre scored on all three of these problems. The detail that had been taken in selecting the right furniture and dressing was to be congratulated. Wherever did you manage to store it all backstage? Similarly the speed with which each set was constructed was amazing, well done to your screwdriver wielding crew!

Act 1 opens in Algernon Moncrieff”s flat in London. What an affected pompous character he is and Tom Hatfield succeeded brilliantly, how he managed to consume all those cucumber sandwiches and still deliver his lines was a feat in itself. David McKenna as Jack Working managed to rise to the period of the piece as if he had in reality lived at that time. Well done, not easy to compare the characters of that time with our modern day whirlwind lifestyle. Both Maria Skovmand ad Gabi Moran as Gwendolen Fairfax and Cecily Cardew were suitably naive foils for the two young men. With the arrival of Lady Bracknell played by Terry Baker, her performance had so many well known actresses to compare to, but Terry made this her own. One minor criticism that because her costumes included large brimmed hats I was concerned that these caused her to look down at the floor on a lot of important lines, when in reality she needed to be either looking at her fellow actors or at the audience, despite this a well executed performance.

We were convincingly transported for Act 2 to the garden at the Woolton Manor House if slightly over generous with the roses! Hilary Stokes as the very starchy Miss Prism was totally convincing and was suitably supported by Matt Dye as Rev Cannon Chasuble. These two characters can so often be underplayed, but on this occasion managed to obtain the right rapport with the other cast members.

The final Act set in the Manor House Drawing Room was yet another scenic masterpiece. The stage crew obviously worked very hard supported by those responsible for the all important dressing. Finally all too often it is easy to forget that however talented and professional characters are, they need so much support from the smaller characters and in playing the parts of Lane, Merriman and the Footman, Bic Baker, Robin Perry and Mike Bass proved that everyone in this production was an important player.

Congratulations to everyone and thank you for your hospitality.

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