Show: The Importance of Being Earnest
Society: Special Events (British Isles & Eire)
Venue: Sunderland Empire. 4-5 High Street West, Sunderland (production is streamed only)
Credits: By Oscar Wilde. Performed by students from Newcastle University Theatre Society, raising funds for Acting for Others
Type: Sardines
Author: Alexander Wood
Performance Date: 09/07/2021
The Importance of Being Earnest (Students Stream Wilde in support of Acting for Others)
Alexander Wood | 10 Jul 2021 19:10pm
Students from the Newcastle University performed Oscar Wilde’s The Importance of Being Earnest at the magnificent Empire Theatre, Sunderland in aid of Acting for Others.
Oscar Wilde wrote this play as a ‘trivial comedy for serious people’ following previous successes which had a serious edge to them at a time when other playwrights – George Bernard Shaw, for instance – were presenting theatregoers with plays that had a ‘message’.
His most popular play, this is an ambitious project for a young cast.
Generally speaking they have been successful. Algernon Moncrieff, an idle young man, is played with urbanity and aplomb by Jay Robinson; his friend Ernest Worthington JP (Max Brennan) a contrasting study in his seriousness (naturally) and expressed sense of what is right and wrong. Contrasts is also provided by the upright and serious Gwendolen Fairfax played very ably by Bugsy Bannon and Cecily Cardew, presented with just the right amount of light-hearted and flirtatiousness in Martha Watson’s captivating performance.
The older characters present a challenge for young actors. Bearing that in mind I felt they made a very satisfactory fist of it. On the face of it Lane is just the butler but his ‘I’ve seen this all before’ attitude is an important part of the comedy of the piece and Finlay Worrallo captured this very well. The role of Lady Bracknell is one of the best-known in English theatre and, in spite of her youth I felt that Louisa Rimmer brought her snobbery, snootiness and extraordinary self-belief to the fore. Two other great roles in this play are Miss Prism and Dr Chasubel, played by Ellie Denton and Harry Higgins respectively. I enjoyed Ellie’s portrayal of Miss Prism though I would have liked to have seen a little more dizziness from her, especially when confronted by the gauche charms of Dr Chasubel, played with a nice characterisation and delightful mannerisms by Harry Higgins. Sean Kavanagh carried off the small part of Merriman with skill.
The set is quite simple but carefully thought out with appropriate period furniture and props. The cast were immaculately dressed in well-chosen period costume.
I hope I don’t sound old-fashioned and conventional in saying that I was not comfortable with the setting – looking out into the auditorium of the mighty, completely empty Sunderland Empire – though the reason for this, commemorating a miserable and empty year for theatre, was justified, especially since the production is a fundraiser for Acting for Others. Nevertheless, because of this the play lacks the intimacy I think it needs.
That said, I enjoyed the skillful camera work used in this streamed production.
The conversation between Oscar Wilde and his great friend Robbie Ross (written by director Adam Kinneen), part of which is set after the first night of his play in London, piecing together Wilde’s thoughts on life, literature and the increasingly difficult situation he found himself in at the time of ‘Earnest’, interspersed between the acts of the play worked very well, though might also have been as effective at the start as an appetiser for this relatively short piece. Conor O’Hara as Robbie creates a suitable foil for Leo Mac Neill in the role of Oscar Wilde, though at times I felt played with a little too much gravitas for this celebrated wit.
All in all, though, a very good production for a good cause.
- : admin
- : 09/07/2021
Acting for OthersCharitycoronavirusCovid-19social distancingSunderland Empire