The Importance of Being Earnest

by Oscar Wilde
a baby in a basket

Not even an historic St. Valentine’s Day snowstorm in 1895 could prevent the opening of The Importance of Being Earnest; A Trivial Comedy for Serious People — Oscar Wilde’s latest confection for the London Theatre — from becoming THE major social and cultural event of the season! One hundred and thirteen years later, history may repeat itself as this frothy, cool romance opens the summer for Lost Nation Theater.

Part satire, part parody and part intellectual farce, Wilde paints a devastatingly witty portrait of Victorian England — a world in which, despite the ridiculous, love can conquer all, if only one is earnest! Beneath this brilliant comedy lurks a slightly more serious subtext that takes uncannily accurate aim at the hypocrisy of its age. The play is built upon a pun of the name “Ernest” and Wilde’s weapons of choice — unfailingly amusing dialogue, eyebrow-arching epigrams and razor-sharp repartee — are all employed with astonishing skill to skewer the social posturing among deliciously superficial people.

The plot: John Worthing is “Jack” in the country, but “Ernest” in the city. He’s met his true love-Gwendolyn in the city (which is very well since she will only marry someone of the name of Ernest) the name produces “vibrations.” Meanwhile, Jack’s friend Algie poses as “Ernest” in the country and falls in love with Jack’s ward Cecily. The plot thickens when Gwendolyn surprises Jack in the country and uncovers who he really is.

Lost Nation Theater has again assembled a superb cast and crew to bring to its stage a stylish and pitch perfect production of this glittering comedic gem. The Importance of Being Earnest is directed by David Poirier (at LNT: STONE, The Tempest, and The Mousetrap), whose career as a professional actor & director spans nearly 40 years.

Love triumphs over the grave, as LNT welcomes back Romeo & Juliet’s Caleb Probst and Kate Kenney as the wry and witty Algernon and his young love Cecily Cardew. (Their characters enjoy a significantly happier ending this time!) Completing the cast are Joshua Davis, making his LNT debut as the seemingly straight laced Jack Worthing, the Irish Classical Theater Company’s Megan Callahan as the fashion-conscious Gwendolyn, comedic favorites Larry Lambeth & Jocelyn Parrish, Artistic Director Kim Bent, and, recreating her role of Gwendolyn’s formidable mother Lady Bracknell from LNT’s 1995 Earnest, central Vermont’s own Emme Erdossy.

Returning with another memorable scenic and lighting design will be Ellen E. Jones (Sweeney Todd), costumer Becky Sheloske (Henry V) and company member Tim Tavcar provides the music.

Tickets for The Importance of Being Earnest are:  $25 on Fridays, Saturdays & Sundays; and $20 on Thursdays. The Preview, Thursday June 19, and the 2pm Saturday Matinee, June 21, have a special ticket price of $15. Students & seniors receive a $5 discount. (Infants and toddlers are not admitted.)

June 19-July 6

We're sorry you missed it. Check our future shows.

2008 Curtain Times:

7pm Thursdays & Sundays (except final Sunday, curtain at 2pm)

8pm Fridays & Saturdays

2pm Saturday Matinee (the first Saturday of each run)

Come early for the best choice of seats!

Box Office: 802.229.0492
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