The Importance of Being Earnest

Starring David Suchet ... here's what I said for Sydney Arts Guide http://www.sydneyartsguide.com.au/the-importance-of-being-earnest-2/Filmed at London’s Vaudeville Theatre late last year, Oscar Wilde’s deliciously witty satire on Victorian manners was scintilattingly directed by Adrian Noble (Amadeus, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, The King’s Speech). The pacing and comic timing was excellent. Of the play’s three acts, Act 3 was my favourite. For those unfamiliar with Wilde’s play the plot can be summarised as follows:- This is a frothy, brilliantly written comedy of concealed identities and long lost babies among other things. Two bachelor friends, upper class elegant dandy Algernon Moncrieff ( Philip Cumbus) and totally trustworthy John Worthing JP ( Michael Benz) lead double lives (‘Bunburying’) in order to court the desirable Gwendolyn Fairfax (Emily Barber) and Cecily Cardew, John’s ward(Imogen Doel). The two men have to face the consequences of their deceptions – and the domineering Lady Bracknell . The sets as designed by Peter McKintosh were superb . . . a cleanly elegant Act 1 for Worthing’s London house, a beautifully lit garden for Act 2 and wonderful stained glass windows and library for Act 3, the interior of the country house. And the costumes were glorious. The show’s big drawing card was Poirot star David Suchet as Lady Bracknell, the first male Lady Bracknell ever to be seen in the West End. Suchet revels in playing a very haughty and formidable Lady Bracknell, and steals every scene that he is. In Act 1 Bracknell wears a beautiful burgundy ensemble with a white lace blouse, in Act 3 she is seen in an exquisite oyster coloured ensemble. Bracknell is every inch the imperious matriarch, queering Gwendolyn with a Gorgon-like look. Her questioning of John Worthing in Act 1 is fabulous, one of the highlights of the show, and her taking over in Act 3 fluidly assured. The famous ‘a hand bag’ line was delivered with aplomb. Bracknell combines a sense of the absurdity of life with grasping calculation and snobbery. One of the main themes of Wilde’s play is that in Victorian England it was possible to buy one’s way into the aristocracy, and Lady Bracknell is not ashamed of this fact. The play also offers witty insights into a society that hides beneath a veneer of hypocritical respectability, money, morals and marriage. Emily Barber’s Gwendolen, exquisitely dressed, is developing her mother’s commanding presence. She could have emerged from a bygone age – her accent, attitude, timing and phrasing are precisely measured, and bang on. She and Cecily strike sparks off each other – there is a wonderful cat fight in Act 2 in the glorious rose garden and the reconciliation is terrific .Cecily , a young blooming English rose , with a high girly voice , is portrayed as a dreaming , rather quite modern teenager by Doel. There is instant attraction between Cecily and Algernon and they can hardly keep their hands off each other. Cecily’s restricted and insulated life is indicated in Act 3 by her shock at the discovery that she is a wealthy heiress. As flustered Jack (“Ernest”) Worthing handsome Michael Benz, well known for his role in Downtown Abbey, give a delicious, inspired performance. A regular cast member at Shakespeare’s Globe, Philip Cumbus’ Algernon is a scruffy, cynical, decadent ‘lad about town’. Algernon’s huge appetite is symbolically indicated by his voracious devouring of muffins, leading to a hilarious muffin fight with Jack. Act 2 is great fun with Jack in full mourning for his ‘bad brother’ Earnest but then Algernon turns up in disguise as Earnest. Michelle Dotrice’s Ms Prism is a firm, plainly dressed governess, who suddenly, oddly turns into a giddy, giggly simpering girl again at the appearance of Canon Chasuble, played well by Richard O’Callaghan with an Irish lilt. This was a thoroughly enjoyable production. Running time two and a half hours (approx) including two intervals. For the record - There were no making of short documentaries or behind the scenes interviews at interval. THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING EARNEST screens at selected arthouse cinemas including the Palace Chauvel and the Palace Norton Street cinemas from 6th February 2016. Share this:Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)Share on Facebook (Opens in new window)Click to share on Google+ (Opens in new window)Click to email this to a friend (Opens in new window)