★★★★★
The Importance
of Being Earnest
or A Trivial Comedy for Serious People
or A Trivial Comedy for Serious People
It seems
only appropriate that The Importance of Being Earnest opened last week at
London’s Turbine Theatre on the 125th anniversary of Oscar Wilde’s undoubted
classic work. Coming directly from Cirencester’s Barn Theatre, the production
arrives as a two-man re-imagining of this witty, wonderful Wildean epigrammatic
masterwork.
For those
unfamiliar with the plot, this is the one about the handbag! Simply put, it’s a
farcical comedy in which the major protagonists – John/Jack/Ernest Worthing and
Algernon Moncrieff - maintain fictitious characters to
escape onerous social obligations. Working within the social conventions of the
time, the play's major themes are the triviality with which it treats
institutions as solemn as marriage, and the resulting satire of Victorian ways.
We also
encounter Gwendolen Fairfax, Cecily Cardew, Miss Prism, Reverend Canon Chasuble, Lane, Merriman and Lady Bracknell
of handbag fame! The relevance of this joyous ensemble of ten only becomes significant
when we discover that all these characters will be played at tonight’s
performance by only two actors!
By some
terrible quirk of fate, the members of Battersea Dramatic Society – apologies if
the name is incorrect – have been delayed due to problems with their bus.
Adhering to the old adage that the show must go on, Graham de Hare, producer
and Kevin McKinnon, stage manager decide to go on in their stead.
And go on
indeed they do! Ryan Bennett as de Hare and Aidan Harkins as Kevin McKinnon
give sublime, inventive performances as they play every member of the doomed
company. They are not only incredible as they positively devour every jot, tittle
and hysterical nuance of Wilde’s 22,000-word script but also heroically capture
every trait, whilst seamlessly, and instantaneously, changing costumes – a feat
of incredible stamina and a joy to behold. Quite brilliant, awe-inspiring,
magical and decidedly unique!
Bryan
Hodgson’s exquisite direction has shaped a production that is ingenious, riotous,
fast-paced, indefatigably physical but, above all, hysterically funny.
At this
point, it is imperative to mention Denise Cleal, simply described in the
programme as wardrobe supervisor. This must be the understatement of the year
as she truly achieves theatrical magic amidst this resourceful mayhem.
Further, there
is a spectacular choreographic master-class at the bows, where we were treated
to tap-dancing, flossing, voguing, all
forms of tango to name but a few. Truly a genuine laugh-out-loud finale!
The Importance
of Being Earnest is a serious heady cocktail, imagined by head mixologist (and
uncredited choreographer, if I’m not wrong), Bryan Hodgson, and only achieved
with those rarest of genius ingredients, Ryan Bennett and Aidan Harkins.
Please head
down to the Turbine and don’t miss Earnest! But with one word of warning for
those not arriving in chauffeur-driven limo, the bus stop nearest the theatre
is closed!
The Importance
of Being Earnest is playing at The Turbine Theatre
until 29 February 2020
until 29 February 2020
Director:
Bryan Hodgson
Sound Designer: Harry Smith
Lighting Designer: Sam Rowcliffe-Tanner
Producer: Jamie Chapman Dixon
Production Manager: Chris Cleal
Sound Designer: Harry Smith
Lighting Designer: Sam Rowcliffe-Tanner
Producer: Jamie Chapman Dixon
Production Manager: Chris Cleal
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