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| Lady Bracknell (Sharon Lockwood, center) confronts Miss Prism (Trish Mulholland, right) as others look on. |
In Oscar Wilde’s “The Importance of Being Earnest,”
two young women separately vow that they must marry a man named Earnest.
In an effort to win their hands, two young men
pretend they’re named Earnest. Of course their schemes backfire, but all works
out well.
Presented by Aurora Theatre Company, Wilde’s satire
of late 19th century manners is full of his signature bon mots.
However, this production directed by incoming artistic director Josh Costello
doesn’t always work as well.
This is especially true in the first scene in
London, where Algernon Moncrieff (Patrick Kelly Jones) welcomes a visit by his
friend, Jack Worthing (Mohammad Shehata), who’s in love with Algernon’s cousin,
Gwendolen Fairfax (Anna Ishida).
Jack has a manor house in the country, where he’s
responsible for his ward, Cecily Cardew (Gianna DiGregorio Rivera). In order to
go to London occasionally, he pretends he has a wastrel brother named Earnest
there.
The conversation between the two men seems stilted
and mannered, as if they were trying too hard to be witty and sophisticated.
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| Lady Bracknell (Sharon Lockwood) questions Jack (Mohammad Shehata). |
Everything brightens, though, with the arrival of
Algernon’s aunt, the formidable Lady Bracknell (Sharon Lockwood), and her
daughter, Gwendolen.
Lockwood's Lady Bracknell commands the stage with her
imperious ways and her impeccable timing.
Jack, whom Gwendolen knows as Earnest, proposes to
her, but Lady Bracknell forbids the engagement because Jack is an orphan.
In the meantime, Algernon is intrigued by Jack’s
description of Cecily and is determined to meet her. He goes to Jack’s manor
house in disguise, but the various deceptions are soon uncovered, leading to
the play’s resolution.
In addition to any time with Lockwood, the second
act has an amusing scene involving what amounts to a cat fight between the two
young women, but they immediately make up when they discover what’s going on.
Another performance that stands out is Trish
Mulholland as Miss Prism, Cecily’s governess. Michael Torres does double duty
as Lane, Algernon’s discrete manservant, and as the Rev. Canon Chasuble, Miss
Prism’s would-be suitor.
The handsome but spare and flexible set is by Nina
Ball with lighting by Wen-Ling Liao. The elegant costumes are by Maggie
Whitaker. Chris Houston serves as sound designer and composer.
Despite shortcomings by the two young men, the
overall production is quite enjoyable thanks to Wilde’s wit and Lockwood’s
performance.
Running about two and a half hours with two short
intermissions, “The Importance of Being Earnest” will continue through May 12
at Aurora Theatre Company, 2081 Addison St., Berkeley.
Photos by David Allen
