Lynn Belvedere

THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING EARNEST EXPEDITED

 

 

 

Beautifully inspired when Cecily Cardew lingers whilst kissing the calling name card that states EARNEST – but that card handed to her by Algernon Moncrieff. So many very clever uses made of blocking and wonderful wild mannerisms galore. Very Highly Recommended.

First performed at the St James’s Theatre in London, on Thursday 14th February 1895. THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING EARNEST, A Trivial Comedy for Serious People, as written by Oscar Wilde.

THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING EARNEST
There usually are nine actors required, for the nine roles.
John Worthing, J.P. – EARNEST
Algernon Moncrieff – pretends to be EARNEST
Rev. Canon Chasuble, D.D. – FANCIES Miss Prism
Merriman – BUTLER
Lane – BUTLER
Lady Bracknell – Gwendolen’s mother
Hon. Gwendolen Fairfax – daughter of Lady Bracknell
Cecily Cardew – Ward of John Worthing
Miss Prism – FANCIES Rev. Canon Chasuble

Nine characters BUT all the words are missing for the two butlers. However both butlers get a mention – the amazing cast of three actors (essentially as required) instantly becomes each and every character – constantly alternating between the seven characters – all three are magnificently performing each character. There are on stage costume changes – wearing a red dress equals female role – black coat and trousers equals male role – accents change and mannerisms change – Gwendolen Fairfax and Cecily Cardew, sound different AND whilst both characters are on stage delivering their dialogue with the one actor facing left and then right and then left, etc etc etc. Apparently people are seeing this very memorable production multiple times, and many also bring along extra people. The words “a hand-bag” spoken with panache and timed pause.

Trivial behaviour is displayed by all, with mistaken identities, secret engagements, and lovers entanglements, all delivered with perfect comedy timing, by the perfect cast of three actors, who are always wonderful.

John (Jack/Earnest) Worthing, the play’s protagonist, is a very responsible and respectable young gentleman, having genuine and excellent means, but leads a clever double life as Earnest Worthing. Lady Bracknell is Algernon’s forever domineering blunderbuss of an aunt, and is Gwendolen’s mother. Cecily Cardew, is the eighteen-year-old granddaughter of the late Thomas Cardew, who found baby John (Jack/Earnest) Worthing in a handbag, at the cloak room of Victoria Railway Station (Brighton Line) and then adopted the baby John.

No man is called Earnest. Jack is moral and Algernon is immoral. Jack Worthing is completely and deeply in love with Gwendolen Fairfax, but Gwendolen Fairfax is completely and deeply in love with Earnest. We learn of Algernon’s frequent lifestyle practice of BUNBURYING, and this time he is posing as Jack’s non-existent brother Earnest. Algernon Moncrieff instantly falls (head over heels) for Jack’s ward Cecily Cardew, but Cecily is also in love with Earnest. Cecily and Gwendolen are both madly in love with, the same mythical suitor. If only someone was actually Earnest.

 
 
CREATIVES –
Actor – Lib Campbell
Musician – Courtney Powell
Actor – Tai Scrivener
Actor – David Woodland
Director and Producer – Keith Bosler
Costume and Set Designer – Tanya Woodland
Publicist – Sirmai Arts Marketing
Digital Marketing – Charlotte Bosler

Pix by Stephen Reinhardt.
 
 
TICKETS – https://sydneyfringe.com/events/the-importance-of-being-earnest-expedited/
 
 
VENUE- https://sydneyfringe.com/venues/kings-cross-hotel/
 
 
Download and read THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING EARNEST the full 1895 script, as one 272KB pdf file
 
 



 

 
 

 
 

Published by Lynn Belvedere

Once we were old enough, my parents took the whole family to the Sydney CBD cinemas every week. Thus began a lifetime interest, in going to the cinema every week, and became a passionate cinephile by watching all those very heavily edited ''Australian Film Censorship Board'' true cinéaste versions of brand new release ''Cinematograph Films''. Greater Union always gave my father (who worked in Cinema Distribution Exhibition) guest double movie passes, to every first-night ''red carpet Opening Night'' at The State Theatre Cinema at 49 Market Street. Up until his death, my dad always received ''two house seats'' for every Opening Night performance events at the Theatre Royal SYDNEY and at Her Majesty's Theatre SYDNEY. As a child, when mum choose not to go, I often went with him, to those live performance events. As a young child, I remember being taken for each new show, at both The New Theatre at 60 Sussex Street, and the Phillip Street Theatre when located at 150 Elizabeth Street, and for classical music concerts at Sydney Town Hall. = = = ★★★★★ = = = Being happy is a choice, and I have always viewed my life, as material ready be made into a series of amazing tentpole movies. My New Years Resolution is kept every year: ''Get to see/review five new live theatre shows each week, and get to see/review six new cinema movies each week'', plus is one of the Australian Cinema Pioneers, and apparently have seen far too much already, but always wanting to experience more and more each year. I am also able to do almost everything that I enjoy doing. Yes, I do have a great daytime job in I.T. as ''Software Design Project Manager'', PLUS each evening until quite late - - - Australian Cinematograph Films historical censorship consultant - product-placement consultant - mystery-shopper consultant - playwright, writer, author, director, producer, photographer, cinematographer, color-grader, subtitles proofreader - arts/ drama/ music/ film critic and judge, journalist, member FIPRESCI & FCCA & AFCA, member AACTA accredited film reviewer-critic-writer, accredited IMDB.COM critic-reviewer-author, projectionist, plus an innovative iconoclast - - - ★★★★★ LYNN BELVEDERE ★★★★★ - - - [usr 5] - - -