The St. John’s theatre scene is about to have a new production of The Importance of Being Earnest! Performed by the Pourquoi-Pas? Players, this show is a light, witty comedy about love, deceit, coincidences, principles, and handbags. Some of Oscar Wilde’s most-quoted lines are from this play, and quite understandably so — it’s filled with semi-profound observations, cutting remarks, and wonderful absurdities. No characters are shortchanged in the matter of ridiculousness, save for the servants who appear to be the only ones in possession of common sense (many rehearsals have been spent wondering whether Merriman and Lane exchanged notes occasionally, comparing stories of their employers’ antics). And though some references are grounded in their era, it is a highly accessible piece with a great many timeless truths, such as the hypocrisy of pretending to be worse than you are, and the location of Worthing, a seaside resort.
The production runs from April 28th to 30th at Gower Street United Church. Tickets are available here.
Full Cast:
Holly Stack as Lane and Merriman
James Dinn as Algernon
Karin Murray-Bergquist as Jack
Jean Graham as Lady Bracknell
Shannan Rogers as Gwendolen
Samantha Payne as Miss Prism
Hannah Tuck as Cecily
Greg Whelan as Canon Chasuble
The Handbag as Itself
Practical Fantasists 