Set in late 19th century England, Oscar Wilde's The Importance of Being Earnest is considered by many to be one of the funniest plays ever written. Hardly a sentence goes by which is not witty, satirical and ambiguous in some way. The overall effect is of a light farce concerned with issues of lifestyle and marriage. However, underneath the surface there lurks a serious play with a biting social commentary which takes aim at the moral code of Victorian society. It asks: when does the earnestness with which we conform to the moral code become hypocrisy.
The Importance of Being Ernest affectionately challenged Victorian society's norms. The questions Oscar Wilde raised so cleverly in 1895 continue to resonate with us today.
Jack looking at Miss Prisms bag
Jack and Gwendolen
Algernon and Cecily
Lady Bracknell
Miss Prism and Chasuble interrupting Cecily's tea
Jack reprimanding Algernon
Gwendolen and Cecily fighting
Jack speaking to Lady Bracknell
Fall 2006 Production
Written by Oscar Wilde
Directed by Anne-Marie Donovan
Performances: November 15-18, 2006
Venue: Theatre of the Arts, Modern Languages Building
Cast
Lane/Merriman - John Cormier
Algernon Moncrieff - Brad Cook
John Worthing - Brendan Riggs
Lady Bracknell - Greg Carere
Gwendolen Fairfax - Michelle Jedrzejewski
Miss Prism - Bridget Myers
Cecily Cardew - Jennifer Lorbetski
Dr. Chasuble - Michael Kolodziej
Creative
Director - Anne-Marie Donovan
Assistant Director - Viktorija Kovac
Set Design - William Chesney
Costume Design - Jocelyne Sobeski
Lighting Design - Scott Spidell
Sound Design - Fraser Smith
Production
Stage Manager - Danielle Jewinski
Asst. Stage Manager (Props) - Joe Recchia
Asst. Stage Manager (Wardrobe) - Andrea Dupuis
Asst. Stage Manager (Book) - Monica Skorupski
Production Manager - Amy Tait
Publicity - Robin Atchison
Publicity Crew - Heather Muir, Francesca Reid
Dramaturg - Zara Rafferty
Carpentry (Staff) - Gill Lesperance
Carpentry (Crew) - Stephen Chen, Alex Lekawski, Monty Martin, Kelly McNeely, Brenda Pilatzke, Travis Sewchan
Lighting (Staff) - Fraser Smith, Gill Lesperance
Lighting (Crew) - Emily Howard (Crew Head), Michael Albert, Dan Cristofori, Derek Lindman, Ciaran Myers, Nick Peppiat, John Wideman, Sarah Widmeyer, Leonard Zgrablic
Wardrobe (Staff) - Jocelyne Sobeski
Wardrobe (Crew) - Miranda Francis, Garth Graham, Keriece Harris, Alisha Kocher, Lexie Mitchell, Amy O’Grady, Aimee Villapando
Sound (Staff) - Fraser Smith
Sound (Crew) - Lisa Bosman
Program - Zara Rafferty
House Manager - Shelby Barker
Props/Scenic Paint (Staff) - William Chesney
Props/Scenic Paint (Crew) - Jessica Moore (Crew Head), Calla Churchwood, Jocelyn Urquhart, Carly Verhoeven, Janna Youngblut
Special thank you to
Theatre Sheridan – Jane McLeod
Sandy Lesperance
University of Guelph- Paul Ord
Carpets courtesy of Silk Road Fine Carpets, Kitchener
Wandering Minstrel Music Store – Mark Rowsom
UW Greenhouse