Olympic Theatre Arts announces cast for ‘The Importance of Being Earnest’
Published 1:30 am Wednesday, January 11, 2017
“The Importance of Being Earnest, A Trivial Comedy for Serious People” — it’s full title — was first performed in 1895 in London.
This winter, it hits the Olympic Theatre Arts stage in Sequim.
“The Importance of Being Earnest” plays Jan. 27-Feb. 12 on the Caldwell Main Stage at the Olympic Theatre Arts Center, 414 N. Sequim Ave. Tickets are available online at olympictheatrearts.org, or at the theater box office at 683-7326 from 1-5 p.m. Monday-Friday.
The audience will be taken back to Victorian England during the early 19th century, a time when aristocracy, respectfulness and manners were part of the upper class. This farcical comedy pokes fun at those burdensome social obligations.
Jack Worthing (Randy Powell), the play’s protagonist, is a pillar in the community and is guardian to Cecily Cardew (Emma Easton), the 18-year-old granddaughter of the late Thomas Cardew, who found and adopted Jack when he was a baby.
In nearby London, Jack’s close friend Algernon Moncrieff (Benjamin Komar) has a cousin, Gwendolen Fairfax (Liz Duval), whom Jack deeply loves but she desires to only marry someone with the name of Earnest.
Gwendolen’s mother Lacy Bracknell (Josh Sutcliffe) keeps close watch on her daughter’s affairs and does not approve of Jack’s advances.
In this production, Lady Bracknell is played by a man. Director Anna Andersen explains why: “During the era when Wilde wrote the play, he was having gender issues and saw the world with a different perspective than most,” Andersen said. “Josh Sutcliffe is a natural playing the character of Lady Bracknell. You will not be disappointed.”
When they all meet up again at Jack’s country home the audience meets Miss Prism (Susan Dwyer), the butler (Steve Berry) and the local rector Chasuble (Merv Wingard) who has a romantic eye for Miss Prism.
