"Everybody is clever nowadays", LAMB'S PLAYERS debuts "The Importance of Being Earnest" On the Coronado Stage

This is their Third Oscar Wilde Production

A Blog View by Alejandra Enciso-Dardashti

The Importance of Being Earnest. Photo LAMB'S Players Theatre

It never ceases to amaze me the afterlife classic works have and, the behind-the-scenes while they were being created and debuted. Irish playwright and poet, Oscar Wilde's The Importance of Being Earnest is one of his career highlights, and at the same time, what was happening BTS during 'Earnest's debut, was a downfall, starting with his imprisonment and then being exiled to France. Yet, good work grants karma, and this play has been produced over and over since it premiered in 1895. After 129 years, that's not bad.

LAMB'S Players in Coronado continues its season with Earnest', following two young British men, Algernon (Michael Lewis Cusimano) and Jack (Brian Mackey), who flow through life with the name Earnest. The name seems fitting and apparently carries some weight in these men's love interests: Gwendolen (Rachael VanWormer), Algernon's cousin, and Cecily (Lauren King Thompson), Jack's ward. Society's standards are high and Gwendolen's mother, Lady Bracknell (David McBean), will not have these shenanigans. 

The Importance of Being Earnest. Photo LAMB'S Players Theatre

In this comedy of errors, late 1800s rom-com, the men fall into their own traps while the women -apparently- do too. Kerry Meads's direction sets a good balance between the two sides while the comedy goes in parallel having a solid, amusing, fun, play. Sean Fanning's set design is snazzy and functional, transforming into three different settings while the scenes occur, complemented by Ben Read and Patrick Duffy's sound design, adding oomph to the moment.

With this play being a period piece and in London, Jeanne Reith did a wonderful job with the costumes as the dresses for the women are beautiful using taffeta in blue, peach, and light colors with matching hats, coquette clutches and, -diaries-. The men's wardrobe is complete with suits, ties, and vests; the wardrobe winners are shoes with different colors and styles like booties and chairmans. 

The cast is engaging and funny. The dynamic between Rachael and Lauren is a good time as both bring sass and comedic faces. King Thompson glances at the audience for an added giggle and VanWormer even rolls her r's to emphasize which is hilarious. David McBean as the society-driven, concerned mother/authority, Lady Bracknell /Aunt Augusta, is a delight with her continuous conclusions, giving master side eye and chopping words at the end of a sentence to deepen the intention. McBean knows comedy and this portrayal confirmed it once again. 

I love the variety actors are bringing to the stage this year like Brian Mackey who I saw at the top of the year with LAMB's "Outside Mullingar" as the feisty yet shy, eternal bachelor Anthony Reilly, to then incarnate father/son Andrey and Bolkonsky in Cygnet's "Natasha, Pierre & The Great Comet of 1812" to now Jack a.k.a Earnest. Mackey delivers comedy in this role in a stern and collected way that meshes well with the plot. Also giving variety, Michael Lewis Cusimano who performed an amazing Anatole in 'Comet this year, gives sneaky and trickster, "Bunburying" as the massive snacker Algie, entertaining Aunt Augusta's requests as well as Cecily's. Geno Carr, John Rosen, Brian Salmons, and Deborah Gilmour Smyth are also in the cast with smaller roles but that did not come in the way of a good, solid time on the boards as Carr and Rosen definitely bring the chuckles playing Merriman, and Lane. Gilmour Smith as Miss Prism is playful and has good chemistry with Brian Salmons as Chasuble. 

LAMB'S has added another good one to the stage. Well cast with good direction and a jolly good time.

The Importance of Being Earnest is currently playing until November 10th. For more information please click HERE.