Performance Review- Walt Finch

The Importance of Being Earnest, as performed by the UK Department of Theater and Dance

Walt Finch

     It is easy for us to get caught up in the petty drama of our day to day lives.  When we are active in it we think that it is very important.  We think these things really matter, and see our actions as right, or noble.  Last Sunday, October 11^th, I saw a matinée performance of The Importance of Being Earnest, a play by Oscar Wilde.  This is a play that challenges that view of our petty drama being important, and pokes fun at it.  The play was very well done, particularly considering it was an amateur performance.  The play was put on by the University of Kentucky Department of Theatre and Dance, directed by Christina Ritter and Russell Henderson.  As I said before, the play pokes fun at the petty drama and lifestyles of the upper class aristocracy in late 19^th century England, by following the lives of Algernon and Jack; two upper class males who lives separate lives in the city and the country, and their fiancés do not know the real them. 

     This makes for quite the funny show.  Algernon was played by Peter Laprade, and he did an excellent job.  My favorite part was by far when Mr. Laprade was bantering with Jack while eating cucumber sandwiches, and also when he entered the room playing a violin after Jack had talked to Gwendolen.  The way he carried himself contributed very much to the play.  It brought a feeling of self-absorption, and childishness that made it so obviously satirical, and entertaining.  The thrust stage used also helped to create this air.  It really allowed you to be close to the actors, and feel the air and attitude they created with their body language.  It helped to make the play more engaging.  In normal stages, it is easy to think of yourself as just watching a play, with this performance I really felt like I was right there, involved in the action.  This was also helped by the use of a light up backdrop, which was a different color based upon the setting. 

      For example when they are at Jack’s house in the countryside, the backdrop was a light blue.  Having it split along 3 tall panels, with significant black space in between each helped to make it feel light and airy.  It felt almost as if we were outside, really on the porch listening to Cecily, Jack’s ward and Algernon’s soon to be fiancé, go through her lessons.   All of this really helped to make the play quite enjoyable, but at times the dialogue could get quite long.  The actors did a magnificent job of standing up and moving around to keep the audience’s attention, but at times I could help but get a little bored and begin to doze off.  Due to these few disengaging moments, I feel compelled to give this play a 4/5, although it was still great and I would definitely recommend to a friend if they perform it again.