first night review: The Importance of Being Earnest @ Le Petit Théâtre

Photo by Brittney Werner

​
​First night review: The Importance of Being Earnest @ Le Petit Theatre 
review by Aura Bishop

The Importance of Being Earnest is many young English Literature students’ introduction to the work of Oscar Wilde. As a theater student at Grace King High School in 1997, it was also my introduction to Le Petit Théâtre. Prior to this, all of the plays I’d seen were in other schools, colleges, or the occasional church. It was exciting - I was finally going to see a play from a local theater company, in the French Quarter, in a cool, old (possibly haunted?!) theater. 

It's hard to believe that was almost exactly 27 years ago. Everything old is new again.

Earnest is probably one of Wilde’s most accessible works - a farce of mistaken identities about the expectations of 'proper society' and how we are all different people in different social situations. Its sharp, witty lines are still quoted to this day. The humor is equally of its time and ahead of its time, with some surprises and plot twists, which is why this play is still fun to read and watch even though it was written almost 130 years ago. 

I wasn't sure what I would remember or what I would forget from the plot of the show. Thankfully, I remembered just enough to anticipate some favorite bits and I forgot just enough to enjoy it as if it were fresh. In many ways, this production brought me back to my first visit to this theater and everything that thrilled me about it. The lush period costumes (designed by Kaci Thomassie) and the elaborate set (scenic designer Joan Long) were a great escape to another place and time - both my own youth and to Oscar Wilde’s 19th Century England.

Rohan Padmakumar has perfected the sly smile and confident mischief of rakish playboy and musician Algernon Moncrieff. Noah Hazzard is delightful as hopeless romantic and slightly more responsible friend Jack. Yvette Bourgeois is hilarious as the book-tossing, manic pixie dream ward Cecily. Bethany Lee is the picture of the perfect ingenue/mistaken love rival Gwendolyn. 

Tracey E. Collins is the endlessly quotable society aunt Lady Bracknell, who knows how to slice everyone, much like the cucumber sandwiches she always seems to be in search of: “Hesitation of any kind is a sign of mental decay in the young, of physical weakness in the old.” This may be one of the best performances of the role I've seen. 

David W. Hoover raises eyebrows and maybe some hair as the overly jolly Rev. Canon Chasuble. Queen Shereen Macklin has her performance of absent-minded intellectual governess Miss Prism in the bag, and Kyle Daigrepont is punchy and hits his punchlines in the dual roles of Lane and Merriman. 

All of this is adeptly directed by A.J. Allegra. It's his first time directing a show at LPT since he took on the role of Artistic Director of the theater company last year, delivering a show that's well-paced, with note-perfect comic timing. 

The Importance of Being Earnest is at Le Petit Théâtre through June 23rd. Click here for show and ticketing information.