Performance Review
Anthony Tamasi
Directors Christina Ritter and
Russell Henderson brought to life Oscar Wilde’s classic comedy, The Importance of Being Earnest within
the small Guignol Theatre, chiefly used by students of the University of
Kentucky’s Department of Theatre and Dance. Despite the not only dearth, but
also spread out nature of the audience seating, Ritter and Henderson managed to
involve all of the audience, giving seemingly equal attention to all three
sections. Even when the action directed itself away from one of the sections,
the audience stayed involved and entertained.
The
Importance of Being Earnest begins with best friends Algernon Moncrieff
(Peter Laprade) and Jack Worthing (Curtis Lipsey III), the former accusing the
latter of “Bunburying,” where Mr. Worthing is Jack in the country and Ernest in
the city. This switching of names becomes problematic, especially when Algernon
produces the façade of being Jack’s “younger brother” Ernest Worthing, who does
not exist, but is merely an imaginative figure whom Jack may pose as in the
city, in order to meet with Ms. Gwendolen Fairfax (Cassady Gorrell); and whom
Algernon is now posing as, in the country, to meet Jack’s ward Ms. Cecily
Cardew (Alexis Slocum). The ladies discover neither Jack nor Algernon are
actually named Ernest, and Mr. Worthing reveals his lies. However, at the end
of the story, Jack uncovers the fact that his name really is Ernest with Jack
(or John, rather) being his middle name; he also discovers Algernon is his
younger brother.
The actors behaved just as I
imagined when reading the play. Laprade portrayed a somewhat lackadaisical and
witty Algernon. Lipsey acted out Jack Worthing in a very emotional manner,
becoming very upset with Algernon in several instances, including when Algernon
meets Cecily Cardew, even nearly refusing to shake his hand. Lady Bracknell
(Jessica Agro) radiated an aura of pompousness. One could easily discern her as
a woman who believed she was the most important person in the room at any given
moment, especially in her attempts to emasculate the already emotionally
teetering Jack Worthing based on his lineage deriving from “a Terminus.”
Costume designer Tracy Ward made
sure to present the actors in a way that most accentuated not only their
character, but the time in which the play was set. The clothing was not modern,
but characterized the 1890s. Lady Bracknell wore poofy dresses and garish hats
that one may find at Keeneland (not to mention in poor taste). Each scene was
dominated by Lady Bracknell’s presence, with her large figure and tall hats. I
enjoyed the fact that the clothing consistently displayed the tension and
emotion of the situation at hand. For example, Lipsell dresses in an all-black
costume when delivering news of his younger brother Ernest’s death. Lucas
Southworth, stage manager, also incorporated ostentatious presentation with the
furniture in every scene. From the silver platter of cucumber sandwiches to the
bookcases containing old war documents, the audience could tell this play was
set in pre-20th century, upper class England.
In spite of being a performance by
college students, The Importance of Being
Earnest is executed in an overall professional manner. To anyone tossing and turning on deciding
whether to see this play or not, I would highly recommend it. To anyone who is
a slave to the rankings, this performance is a five out of five. To anyone who
does not even like plays, I never did either. But this is a performance you
cannot miss. Bottom line – see this play; the lighthearted comedy, wordplay,
and talented actors like Peter Laprade certainly provide for a good viewing
experience.
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