The Importance of Being Earnest by Carol Kaufman Segal

     

    The Importance of Being Earnest is a classic comedy, undoubtedly the most popular comedy by Oscar Wilde (1854-1900), playing at the Freemont Centre Theatre in South Pasadena.  It is set in London and Shropshire, England and is based around two young men, Jack who lives in the country, and his friend Algernon who lives in London.

    Jack (Austen Hall), who lives in the country, likes to look for excuses to get away to London to see his friend Algernon (Adam Lanson), leaving his young ward, the lovely heiress Cecily Cardew (Veronica Coutsky), in the country.  He invents a troublesome brother (he names him Ernest) to whom he has to look out for periodically as his excuse to get away from home.  But the real reason he wants to go is to see his friend Algernon's beautiful cousin, Gwendolen Fairfax (Roza Zemia).

    Later, after Algy (as he is called) finds out more about Jack and the fact that he has a beautiful ward back home, he decides to leave London to visit Jack in the country in order to meet and pursue Cecily.  He arrives in Shropshire posing as Jack's friend Ernest.  Gwendolen eventually shows up in Shropshire, and Jack admits to her that his name is not Ernest, but Jack.  After wooing Cecily, Algernon admits to her that his name is not Ernest either.  This appears to be a problem with the ladies, as both seemed to have the desire to marry someone named Ernest.

   

    But what is more problematic is the fact that Lady Bracknell (Tamarah AshtonI) Gwendolen's mother, will not allow her daughter to marry someone like Jack who has no social status.  As an orphan, Jack had been found by his adopted parents in a handbag at King's Cross Station.  And because Jack is Cecily's guardian, he refuses to let her marry Algernon unless Lady Bracknell changes her mind and lets him marry Gwendolen.

          

    However, fate steps in when Lady Bracknell inspects the handbag that Jack was found in as an infant because it matches exactly the missing handbag that Algernonn's infant brother was in when he was found.  So obviously, Jack had to be Algernon's missing baby brother who had been named Ernest!  The play ends knowing that both couples will soon be getting married.

       

    Other cast members include Connor Chaney, John Farley, Christopher Girt, and Georgan George. Jack J. Bennett directed.  Gloria Bennett was the producer and musical director.  Costumes are by Tamarah Ashton assisted by Jaclyn Khitikian.

    

    The Importance of Being Ernest plays at the Fremont Center Theatre, 1000 Fremont Ave., South Pasadena.  It plays Fridays at 7:00 PM, Saturdays at 2:00 PM and 7:00 PM through September 25.  All seats are & 30,00.  In addition to the live in-person performances, the show is livestreamed with a live stream family pass available for $40.00.  

    For online tickets go to http://yougstarstheatre.org/tickets.

  

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