The Importance of Being Earnest

Wellington Theatre Company “The Importance of Being Earnest”

All those of us involved in amateur theatre spend countless hours searching for and debating over suitable pieces to stage that will provide a challenge for the cast and crew and provide an enjoyable entertainment for our audiences. The choice of this particular classic is a good one and does tick many of those boxes, but it comes with the multiple challenges of having to thoroughly research the period in which it is presented and fulfill all the detail that is required from the set, props and costume through to the actors correct delivery of convoluted language, etiquette and mannerisms of the time. Added to this, many of the audience are familiar with the piece and come along with expectations – another element to add into the challenge list!

First impressions were of a simple set which worked well, key pieces illustrating firstly, Algernon’s flat and then as we then progressed through into the garden and drawing room for later scenes we were given just enough to suggest the settings without unnecessary clutter. This was mostly well thought out for your stage dimensions and gave the maximum amount of stage space for your characters to work in and around. From a directorial point of view, the difficulties arising from the complexity of the piece often became apparent with some of the placement of furniture and actors. On several occasions changes in the status of characters as the story unfolded was hard to discern or lost completely and there were many moments when dialogue was delivered upstage and we lost facial expression and audibility, which was a shame. Perhaps a little more concentration on working on the diagonal and allowing some more movement as dialogue was delivered would have helped to alleviate this.As with any period piece attention to detail is paramount and costume and props are no exception. Properties were well chosen and appropriate with some lovely touches particularly evident with the choice of tea things - right down to cake, muffins, sugar tongs and cucumber sandwiches.

Costume looked appropriate with the exception of Algernon’s jacket in the opening scene, which just did not, due to some obvious alteration, work at all. The wearing of costume should really help an actor deliver a rounded, fully believeable character and I felt that there was an element demonstrated amongst some cast members of not being fully comfortable with the physicality of their portrayals. Knowing what to do with your hands being a key point – it becomes a distraction to the observer when we loose the fluidity of a role. I often feel that having longer rehearsal periods, for a society, allowing the cast to work in costume from an early stage really can help to overcome these issues. If it is, of course at all possible, not always a luxury we can enjoy though. Overall, just a little more concentration on some fine tuning and detailing would have lifted up an already good presentation a notch further.

Characterisations and all the many aspects of presenting creditable performances were driven in this instance, by the recall and delivery of the dialogue. Oscar Wilde is a master of using convoluted language and (as one of my tutors used to put it) ‘never using one word when he can use half a dozen instead’ Sometimes the sheer effort of remembering your lines can cause the occasional dip in remaining in character at all times and keeping things real. But that being said, we were treated to performances that all kept good pace and there was a creditable demonstration of teamwork onstage.  Presentations of relationships and the class divides between servants, clergy and employers were well defined. The banter, particularly from Algernon and Jack was well delivered and you worked well together. Gwendolen and Cecily also demonstrated their changes in attitude to each other as the plot unfolded beautifully.

All in all an evening that was very entertaining, just as it should be from the pen of Mr. Wilde, delivered by a team, from no fault of their own, not running quite on full power. How unfortunate for your team to be beset with what sounded like a very unpleasant gastric bug during performance week  – all credit to everyone for making sure the show went on. I was well aware from my seat in the auditorium that your audience was a very appreciative one and they were given a complete story to enjoy, which both they and I did.

I do hope everyone has recovered well and I thank you for your hospitality. I look forward to the next production and wish you well with the planning.

Jane Burt

District 8a Representative

NODA Southwest

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