Published: Friday, March 13, 2009
Oscar Wilde's genius endures on Village Theatre stage
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Photo by Jay Koh
Jason Collins as Algernon Moncrieff, Paul Morgan Stetler as John "Jack" Worthing, Angela DiMarco as Cecily Cardew, Jennifer Lee Taylor as Gwendolen Fairfax and Laura Kenny as Lady Bracknell in "The Importance of Being Earnest."
You just feel smarter when you leave the theater after seeing "The Importance of Being Earnest."
Oscar Wilde has that effect on you. Your face also hurts a little -- that's from all the laughing.
"Earnest" is Wilde's wildly funny play about mistaken identities, forbidden romances and aristocrats making fools of themselves.
This three-act Village Theater production of "Earnest" is a laugh-out-loud, must-see show with a fabulously talented cast that will have you hanging on every word so you don't miss a single cleverism. Wilde's language is lyrical and light as a cucumber sandwich. The dialogue creates a timeless humor as fitting for us as it was for Queen Victoria.
"Earnest" is set in the Victorian era. Jack Worthing wants to marry Gwendolen Fairfax, but must prove his worthy parentage to Lady Bracknell. Meanwhile, Gwendolen's cousin Algernon loves Cecily Cardew, who happens to be Jack's ward. However, Cecily and Gwendolen both love Earnest, a man they've never met.
Delivering this marvelous muddle of deceit takes precise comic timing and adept tongues. This entire cast, under the wonderful hand of director Brian Yorkey, was flawless in both categories.
The featured performers were Jason Collins as the over-the-top charming Algernon; Paul Morgan Stetler as the endearing Jack; Jennifer Lee Taylor, a vision of peppermint-colored conceit as Gwendolen; Angela DiMarco as the cutesy and clever Cecily; and the imperious Laura Kenny, who as Lady Bracknell, dressed in the last act all in red, was juicy as a tomato, spitting out saucy one-liners like seeds.
Speaking of red, the ladies and the gentlemen all looked lovely under the fashionable fingers of costume designer Karen Ledger.
To sum up, Wilde once said, "I have nothing to declare but my genius." In "The Importance of Being Earnest," we each share in the delight of that genius.
Theresa Goffredo: 425-339-3424, goffredo@heraldnet.com
"The Importance of Being Earnest"
8 p.m. Wednesdays through Saturdays, 2 p.m. Saturdays, and 2 and 7 p.m. Sundays through March 29 at Everett Performing Arts Center, 2710 Wetmore Ave., Everett. Tickets are $16 to $51. 425-257-8600, 888-257-3722, www.villagetheatre.org.
Oscar Wilde has that effect on you. Your face also hurts a little -- that's from all the laughing.
"Earnest" is Wilde's wildly funny play about mistaken identities, forbidden romances and aristocrats making fools of themselves.
This three-act Village Theater production of "Earnest" is a laugh-out-loud, must-see show with a fabulously talented cast that will have you hanging on every word so you don't miss a single cleverism. Wilde's language is lyrical and light as a cucumber sandwich. The dialogue creates a timeless humor as fitting for us as it was for Queen Victoria.
"Earnest" is set in the Victorian era. Jack Worthing wants to marry Gwendolen Fairfax, but must prove his worthy parentage to Lady Bracknell. Meanwhile, Gwendolen's cousin Algernon loves Cecily Cardew, who happens to be Jack's ward. However, Cecily and Gwendolen both love Earnest, a man they've never met.
Delivering this marvelous muddle of deceit takes precise comic timing and adept tongues. This entire cast, under the wonderful hand of director Brian Yorkey, was flawless in both categories.
The featured performers were Jason Collins as the over-the-top charming Algernon; Paul Morgan Stetler as the endearing Jack; Jennifer Lee Taylor, a vision of peppermint-colored conceit as Gwendolen; Angela DiMarco as the cutesy and clever Cecily; and the imperious Laura Kenny, who as Lady Bracknell, dressed in the last act all in red, was juicy as a tomato, spitting out saucy one-liners like seeds.
Speaking of red, the ladies and the gentlemen all looked lovely under the fashionable fingers of costume designer Karen Ledger.
To sum up, Wilde once said, "I have nothing to declare but my genius." In "The Importance of Being Earnest," we each share in the delight of that genius.
Theresa Goffredo: 425-339-3424, goffredo@heraldnet.com
"The Importance of Being Earnest"
8 p.m. Wednesdays through Saturdays, 2 p.m. Saturdays, and 2 and 7 p.m. Sundays through March 29 at Everett Performing Arts Center, 2710 Wetmore Ave., Everett. Tickets are $16 to $51. 425-257-8600, 888-257-3722, www.villagetheatre.org.
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