The brilliance and imagination of playwright Oscar Wilde is brought to life when local theatre group, HaeBo Productions, presents “The Importance of Being Earnest.” The show runs on Sept. 27-29 and Oct. 4-6 at 7:30 p.m. at Price’s Fork Elementary School in Blacksburg. Sunday matinees will also be performed on Sept. 30 and Oct. 7 at 3 p.m.
“The Importance of Being Earnest” is a tour de force of comedy, misidentifications and farce. Algernon and Jack are friends, and each has invented an imaginary person as an excuse to get out of engagements. Jack’s imaginary person is Ernest, a brother with a wild past. The two gentlemen conspire to woo the ladies they love, and through a series of happenstances, must gently deceive to get what they want. The end result is a play chock-full of witticisms, misidentifications, rollicking banter and love that conspires to be one of the most brilliant comedies ever to have seen the stage.
The cast members are no strangers to community theatre. Each of them have worked the many aspects of a show, not only acting on stage but also working on the technical crews and some have even directed.
Director Sarah Klingbeil has enjoyed working with the experienced cast.
“We got to spend most of our rehearsal time working on the details — and details can make or break a show,” Klingbeil said. “Our attention to small moments will affect the audience’s entire experience of the show.”
One thing happens when you see Oscar Wilde’s “The Importance of Being Earnest”; you are amazed to remember that this play was authored over 100 years ago. For most plays of that era, the average audience tends to miss references but not so with this outrageous, witty, charming and raunchy comedy about the manners of four people in love. This show is sure to please so reserve tickets today by visiting www.haeboproductions.com or call 540-320-5438.
Cast:
Jack Worthing: David Colatosti
Algernon Moncreiff: Matthew Ridley
Gwendolyn Fairfax: Amanda Snediker
Cecily Cardew: Aisha Mitchell
Lady Bracknell: Jennifer Nardine
Dr. Chasuble: Andy Bowyer
Miss Prism: Debbie Kleiner
Lane/Merriman: TJ Elmore
Crew:
Executive Producer: Tonya Hall Bowyer
Director: Sarah Lewis Klingbeil
Assistant Director: Marilynn Zeljeznjak
Stage Manager: Lori Robinson
Run Crew: Colleen Hinson Beard, TJ Elmore, Elias Sarver-Wolf, Kelly Robinson
Set Construction: Matthew Ridley, Aisha Mitchell
Costume Mistress: Amanda Cash Snediker
Properties Master: Matthew Ridley
Dramaturg: Paul Rycik