The Importance of Being Earnest

'The Importance of Being Earnest' is one of playwright Oscar Wilde's triumphs.  His wonderfully satricial comedy is known to millions and has endured through decades to still entertain present-day audiences with its wit and humour.

Sue Wetherall, as Director, had gathered together a strong cast for this production and from the opening scene to the very last, the players kept the audience's individed attention, with their polished performance and well-defined portrayal of each character as the story unfolded.

For Act 1, set designer John Wetherall, with his construction team, had transformed the small stage at Much Hadham Village Hall into an authentic representation of the morning room of Algernon Moncrieff's upper-class Victorian London flat.  Philip Dean, as Algernon, gave us a fine performance, his confidence and natural acting ability sustained throughout the play.  Jonathan Bayly, as Algernon's friend Jack Worthing, was equally strong in his performance, though some of his more softly spoken lines were occasionally lost.  Anne Senior was a tour de force in her portrayal as Lady Bracknell, Algernon's aunt - her presence on stage was riveting!

Liz Pickup, as Lady Bracknell's daughter Gwendolen Fairfax, portrayed admirably the character of a young Victorian lady, outwardly frivolous, but with a strong determination to flout her mother's refusal to accept Jack Worthing as a suitable husband, following his revelations over the "careless" loss of both his parents and being found in a handbag in the cloakroom of a London rail terminus!

In Act 2, in the setting of Jack Worthing's "Hertfordshire manor house garden", artfully constructed complete with "paved" terrace and "ornamental standard rose bushes" during a short interval, we were introduced to Cecily Cardew, the attractive young ward of Jack Worthing, who is secretly in love with Jack's fictitious brother "Earnest".  A delightful performance here from Lauren O'Neill, with excellent interaction between her and "rival" Gwendolen Fairfax, when they initially meet and mistakenly think they are both engaged to the same "Earnest".  The two other main characters, Cecily's governess, Miss Prism, well-payed by Margaret Stainton, and Dr. Chasuble, the bumbling Rector, well-characterised by John Wetherall, also brought delightful touches of humour in their respective performances.

Following a second interval, with the stage transformed into the morning room of the manor house overlooking the terrace for Act 3, the comedy draws to its climax.  Lady Bracknell recognises Miss Prism as the family's former absent-minded nanny, responsible for the disappearance of the Bracknell's youg nephew, who now, as Jack Worthing, is finally revealed as Algernon's older brother, Earnest Moncrieff, much to Gwendolen's joy and delight.

Completing the cast were Neil Clarke as Algernon's man-servant Lane, Gerald Dale as Jack's butler Merriman and Corrina Graham-Hodson as the Maid, who had also been responsible, as wardrobe mistress, for sourcing the delightful Victorian period costumes.

Thank you, Much Hadham Drama Group, for a thoroughly enjoyable evening.

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