At Monday’s dress rehearsal of “The Importance of Being Earnest” at Palmer High School, aspiring thespians showcased Oscar Wilde’s legendary wit in a comedy that stands its ground in the 21st century.
Stan Harris, director of “Earnest” and arts instructor at PHS, said the teens have been asking for a “straight play,” or non-musical production, for a couple of years. He finally heard their pleas.
 ROBERT DeBERRY/Frontiersman Palmer senior Micha Fry and Palmer Junior Madison Moss run through a dress rehearsal of the Palmer High School production of 'The Importance of Being Earnest' at Palmer High School. |
Harris, who claims he is “not heavy into straight drama,” was looking for a story with which he was somewhat familiar, yet suited for teens to perform. He stumbled upon the 2002 film version of the Wilde classic starring Reese Witherspoon and Rupert Everett and decided to bring it to his students.
“I thought it was age appropriate for high school kids and it seemed like a worthwhile play,” he said. “It is a classic and, of course, very funny.”
“The Importance of Being Earnest,” written by British socialite Oscar Wilde, is a comedy of manners on the seriousness of society during the late 1800s. It was first performed for the public in 1895 at the St. James Theater in London, but still can get an audience rolling today.
Students were presented with the three-act script before Christmas and asked to use their time wisely over the holidays to learn lines. Rehearsal began on Jan. 7.
“They’ve done it incredibly well,” Harris said. “Most of these kids are singers and their ears are attuned to hearing accents and dialects, so there’s a skill.”
Harris said his biggest challenge directing this production has been dealing with the actors’ blocking, or movement on the small stage.
PHS’ stage plays host to three scenery changes, two indoor and one outside. Sets from previous productions were recycled and students were asked to lend a hand in loaning props from home. Students located costumes that were fitting for upper-class England.
“It’s works very well,” Harris said. “Scenery wise, it’s very simple.”
As for the play’s content, Harris said “The Importance of Being Earnest” is probably the most demanding play PHS has put on, running just over the two-hour mark with absolutely no music or caroling. It’s chock full of British dialogue and an abundance of laughs.
Set in England during the late Victorian era, “Earnest’s” humor is based upon the main character Jack Worthing’s fictitious younger brother Ernest. Remmington Campbell, a senior at PHS, plays Algernon with all the British wit of Monty Python, adding his own cheeky flavor to the young Londoner.
In the play, Algernon has a make-believe friend named Bunbury, who lives in the country and is frequently ill. Whenever Algernon wants to dodge an unwelcome social commitment, he makes a bogus visit to his “sick friend.” In this way he can almost always shy away from his responsibilities. He calls this practice “Bunburying.”
Algernon’s real-life best friend’s name is Ernest Worthing, or so Algernon thinks. When Ernest leaves his cigarette case in Algernon’s room, Algernon finds an inscription in it: “From little Cecily, with her fondest love to her dear Uncle Jack.”
This forces Ernest to disclose that his own visits to the city as “Jack” are also examples of “Bunburying,” much to Algernon’s enjoyment.
Jack, or in the country “Ernest,” is played by PHS senior Micha Fry. Jack pretends he has a no-good brother named Ernest who lives in London. When honest Jack comes to the city, he assumes the name — and behavior — of the unconstrained Ernest. In the country Jack assumes a more serious attitude for the benefit of his young ward, the 18-year old heiress Cecily (Rachel Kenley).
“I like how he does everything he says he opposes,” Fry said.
Jack wishes to marry Gwendolen (Madison Moss), who is Algernon’s cousin. Here, Jack runs into a few problems. Gwendolen seems to love him only because she believes him to be Ernest, which she thinks is the most beautiful name in the world.
Gwendolen’s mother is the obstinate Lady Bracknell (Julia Nelson), who is shocked when she learns that Jack was adopted as a baby after being discovered in a handbag at a train station. In her opinion, it is absolutely below the standards of her daughter to “marry into a cloakroom and form an alliance with a parcel,” as she puts it.
Meanwhile, Jack’s description of Cecily has attracted Algernon to the point that he wants to meet her, in spite of Jack’s firm resistance. Algernon decides to visit Jack’s house in the country in the guise of the mysterious brother Ernest. Thus, Algernon-as-Ernest is able to meet Jack’s ward, Cecily, who has for some time imagined herself in love with Ernest. Regardless, Cecily is soon swept off her feet by Algernon. Meanwhile, Jack, having decided to give up his Bunburying, has announced the tragic death of his brother Ernest to Cecily’s governess Miss Prism (Irene Fry).
What next ensues is a who’s-who of deception and fiasco comparable to an American vaudeville performance, leaving the audience pleasantly confused, enlightened and wanting more.
“They really had fun with this one, which is not surprising,” Harris said. “We have so much talent in this school taking to the stage. It’s a lot of fun to see.”
Madison Moss, who plays conceited Gwendolen, said learning a British accent wasn’t as hard as she thought.
“That was the easiest part, actually,” Moss said. “Watching all those Harry Potter movies helped.”
Julia Nelson said playing Lady Bracknell was a challenge. As a sophomore, “Earnest” is Nelson’s first play. She said her character was treacherous, in an absurd fashion, and made many self-contradictions.
“She’s the meanest person in the entire play,” Nelson said. “I don’t know why he picked me to play her.”
Harris said he’s glad to have chosen a comedy for his drama students at Palmer High School to try out. They will have one more production before the school year comes to a close. And yes, it will be a musical.
Contact J.J. Harrier at valleylife@frontiersman.com or 352-2269.
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