Theater Review: THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING EARNEST (Lamb’s Players Theatre in Coronado)

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by Dan Zeff on September 23, 2024

in Theater-San Diego

THE IMPORTANCE OF SEEING THIS IMPORTANCE

Is there a funnier comedy in the English language than Oscar Wilde’s The Importance of Being Earnest? Since it opened in London in 1895 the play has astonished audiences with its dazzling wit, charming characters. and clever plot. Lamb’s Players Theatre has taken on the challenge of reviving this demanding classic and the company has come up with an elegant, hilarious winner.

Earnest basically is a romantic comedy built on misunderstandings entwining Jack Worthing and Algernon Moncrief, two men about town, and two attractive young women, Gwendolen Fairfax who lives in the city and Cecily Cardew, who lives in the country. Both young ladles believe they are engaged to a young man named Ernest, who doesn’t even exist.

The two couples finally sort out their bickering with Gwendolyn pairing off with Jack and Cecily with Algernon. Wilde sorts out the romantic complexities with surprising dexterity. Along the way, Wilde displays his genius for witty repartée that occupies entire scenes that have no connection with the love stories. And yet it all works seamlessly.

Kerry Meads directs the play with the utmost respect for the Wilde text. The theater has chosen the more popular three-act version of the Wilde original. The Lamb’s version has only one intermission instead of two, which is fine, but shaves off bits of choice dialogue apparently to shorten the playing time, even though the staging just runs a little more than two hours. Curious.

Lamb’s staging is blue chip from top to bottom. Rachael VanWormer is brilliant as Gwendolyn, the city girl who shifts her verbal gears in a moment between scorn and affection. Lauren King Thompson is less outgoing as the country Cecily but stands her ground just as firmly in her competition for the nonexistent Ernest. Their combative tea party in a highlight of the show.

Michael Louis Cusimano is just right as the supercilious Algernon, tossing off epigrams as he wallows in his, well, supercilious manner. Brian Mackey is a bit starchier as Jack but the two make a great complementary pair. Brian Salmon as Canon Chausible and Deborah Gilmour Smyth as Miss Prism are a charming secondary pair. A pity Smyth’s part was condensed; she is a fun character. Even the mini parts of the two men servants (played by Geno Carr and John Rosen) draw droll smiles for their body language, facial expressions, and their choice, if small, bits of language.

But the dominating character in the play when on stage is the forbidding Lady Bracknell, who imperiously delivers most of the funniest lines in the play. There has been a tradition of this female gorgon being played by a man. At Lamb’s, David McBean does the honors convincingly, with no trace of drag. McBean is just the proper actor for the role.
The elegant costume design by Jeanne Reith places the locale authentically in the 1890s. Sean Fanning designed the set, Nathan Peirson the lighting, and Ben Read and Patrick Duffy the sound.

There were some empty seats at my Saturday matinee performance, which is a shame. This is a quality production of a comedy masterpiece and those who attended had a treat.

The Importance of Being Earnest
Lamb’s Players Theatre
1142 Orange Ave in Coronado
Wed at 2 & 7; Thu & Fri at 7; Sat at 2 & 7; Sun at 2
ends on November 10, 2024
for tickets, call 619.437.6000 or visit Lamb’s Players

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