By Neena Strichart
Publisher
Discovering that our usual play reviewer Vicki Paris Goodman would be unable to attend opening night of Long Beach Playhouse’s The Importance of Being Earnest was a pleasant surprise for me, as I so wanted to have the opportunity to experience the performance and share it with our readers. Having read the play in college and seeing several different theatre companies give their interpretations of Oscar Wilde’s 19th century farcical comedy, as well as the musical version, Earnest in Love, I do consider myself a bit of an Earnest aficionada.
The history of Wilde’s play takes us back to London on Valentine’s Day, 1895, when the curtains first rose for The Importance of Being Earnest, A Trivial Comedy for Serious People. Now, more than a century later, the story line still plays to a comedy-loving audience’s hunger for witty dialogue and farcical humor.
Exploiting the social workings of Victorian-era London, the play’s major premises focus on the pettiness of the upper class’s perception of what is proper and important and their total disregard for anyone or anything that they deem beneath them.
With that said, I must say that this particular cast did an exceptional job of story telling and of entertaining the audience. The nine-person ensemble played their parts to perfection, and I especially got a kick out of the two main characters, Algernon Moncrieff (Paul Griffiths) and John Worthington (Matt Landig). Although neither was “really” named Earnest, (or were they?), the two reminded me of the characters Frasier and Niles on the once popular television sitcom Frasier. Just like those metrosexual brothers, Algernon and John are also self-indulgent and quite judgmental of those they deem gauche or unsophisticated. They justify their actions and convince themselves, and sometimes the audience, that their selfish behavior is a result of their silver-spooned birthrights. Oddly enough, the characters are quite likeable even if they are narcissistic.
Although not part of the two main romantic partners, John’s ward Cecily’s governess Miss Prism (Teri Ciranna) and her crush Reverend Canon Chasuble (Tim Forsyth) give off the rawest sensual chemistry I’ve ever witnessed on stage. Holy cow! The couple may be in their senior years, but their relationship made even me blush. Wow!
I was glad the Playhouse now allows patrons to bring beverages to their seats— I sure needed something wet to cool me down after all that passion!
For a good time with lots of laughs, don’t miss Long Beach Playhouse’s Importance of Being Earnest— it’s sure to make you think differently about the Victorian era.
Long Beach Playhouse is located at 5021 E. Anaheim St. Tickets are available for The Importance of Being Earnest through Saturday, Oct. 9. Friday and Saturday night performances begin at 8pm, and Sunday matinees start at 2pm. Regular ticket prices are $22/$20/$12 and are available by calling (562) 494-1014 or at lbplayhouse.org
