Saturday 12 November, 2022
Williamsville, VT
Rock River Players presented Oscar Wilde’s spunky satire, “The Importance of Being Earnest,” to the Williamsville Hall, Dover Road, Williamsville.
Directed by Rock River Players founder and co-artistic director Annie Landenberger, Wilde’s greatest hit is the second large-cast comedy classic offered by the players since the pandemic, following last year’s sold-out “The Front Page.”
“Though Wilde labelled it ‘a trivial comedy for serious people,’ ‘Earnest’ is a pretty irreverent satire,” Landenberger notes, “a poke in the fleshy gut of pretentious high society. And for that, I’d say it’s meatier than trivial.” Earnest premiered in London on Valentine’s Day, 1895, and has since earned its place on myriad stages as well as the number-three spot on Goodreads’ list of Top 100 Stage Plays of All Time.
The Rock River Players “Importance of Being Earnest” company includes Tracy Berchi, Cathie Creed, Amy Donahue, Thomas Ely, Magdalena Keppel, Randy Lichtenwalner, Adrienne Major, John Moran, John Ogorzalek, Cris Parker-Jennings, Dawn Slade, Rose Watson and Nicole Winot. Assistant director is Pat Panella; graphic design is by Rose Watson, as are costumes — with assistance from Belle Coles and the Company. Lighting is by Peter Broussard. Set painting is by Deb Swasey and Carol Rondeau.