WILLIAMSVILLE – Rock River Players (RRP) present Oscar Wilde’s spunky satire, The Importance of Being Earnest, November 4 to 13 at the Williamsville Hall, Dover Rd., Williamsville, Vt.
Directed by RRP founder/co-artistic director Annie Landenberger, Wilde’s greatest hit is the second large-cast comedy classic offered by the RRP since the pandemic, following last year’s sell 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 #3 spot on Goodreads list of Top 100 Stage Plays of All Time.
In the play’s brilliantly woven plot, Jack Worthing and Algernon Montcrief employ fictitious selves to escape burdensome social obligations. “Their antics, coupled with the nose-in-the-air standards of Lady Bracknell and Gwendolyn Fairfax, and the somewhat-warped values of Cecily Cardew, ” Landenberger explains, “sham the haughty social conventions of Victorian England—as they can our own today. ” Countered by more level-headed thinkers, Miss Prism and Canon Chasuble, the cast of characters is rounded out by the serving class –on whom we can rely for candor and earthy wit.
Wilde, Irish by birth, set down his literary roots in late 19th century London. A playwright, novelist, poet, celebrity, “his flamboyant dress, cutting wit, and eccentric lifestyle often put him at odds with the social norms of Victorian England,” according to history.com. Albeit clandestinely, Wilde was homosexual, and we see such nuances laced through much of his work, especially in his daring novel, Picture of Dorian Gray. At the time, homosexuality was a crime in London–and beyond; Wilde was trialed for and accused of “gross indecency” the year Earnest opened for an affair he’d had with a British aristocrat.
The RRP Importance of Being Earnest company includes Tracy Berchi, Cathie Creed, Amy Donahue, Thomas Ely, Magdalena Keppel, Randy Lichtenwelnor, Adrienne Major, John Moran, John Ogorzalek, Cris Parker-Jennings Dawn Slade, Rose Watson, 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 by Peter Broussard; set painting by Deb Swasey and Carol Rondeau.
Earnest launches the Rock River Players 2022-23 season which includes a cabaret, an evening of one acts, a play by David Mamet directed by Bahman Mahdavi and a musical directed by Pamela Corkey. With the mission of bringing the lively arts to the West River Valley and to including all interested in that process, the Rock River Player is a 501c3 non-profit, founded in 2015.
Performances are Friday and Saturday. Nov. 4, 5, 11, 12 at 7:30;
Sundays, Nov. 6 and 13 at 2:30.
Tickets:
General: $12.00
Students and seniors, $10.00
Tickets can be purchased at the door.
Williamsville Hall, Dover Rd. Williamsville, VT 05362
ADA compliant. Masks encouraged.
Questions? info@webwerk.me