CHESTER Storyhouse’s outstanding re-telling of The Importance of Being Earnest would be enough to raise applause and laughter from Oscar Wilde himself. Running from Friday, August 16 until Sunday, September 1, the farce utilises much of the company that stars in Gangs of New York, also in Grosvenor Park’s outdoor theatre, and that familiarity is perfect for any audience who has seen both. The play starts with Algie (Lucas Button) awaiting his Aunt Augusta (the excellent Joanne Howarth), who is better known to audiences as Lady Bracknell, and her daughter Gwendolan, with Honore Kamen yet again dominating every scene she is in.
However, before they arrive, Algie’s ‘frenemy’ in Jack Worthing arrives unannounced with the intention of winning Gwendolan’s hand in marriage, with the feeling reciprocated but lacking Lady Bracknell’s approval. What then ensues is ‘Bunburyism’, per Algie’s invention of friend ‘Bunbury’ who is in constant poor health and allows him to miss social events he doesn’t want to attend, such as Aunt Augusta’s dinners. But his interest is piqued when Jack lets slip of his creation in ‘Earnest’, whom his soon-to-be betrothed believes is him and loves him for it – but hates a Jack – while his ward Cecily, based in the country house and played by Yolanda Avide, believes Earnest to be a wayward brother.
And Jack’s troubles really start when he tells Algie – who revels in his role as a bounder – that Cecily just happens to be rich, young and beautiful. Running for two hours and 20 minutes, with a sizeable interval, the play gives every single actor, whether lead or support, the chance to shine and Natasha Rickman’s direction is excellent. It does not lag – the only small complaint to be levied at Gangs of New York – and much of the audience was willing the second act to hurry along.
It is riotously funny – the ensemble’s musical talents used brilliantly to back up the slapstick – and the use of audience members is fantastic, even though you may be left a little drenched. A shout out to the lady in the front row who raised her blanket each time an actor picked up a drink. The four leads of Button, Kamen, Ovide and James Sheldon as Jack are excellent and the male/male chemistry carries the show, particularly with a slapstick scene involving muffins and the subtitles board which had me howling.
Kame and Ovide have a superb scene that ranges from love and hate and the pair are just brilliant. The supporting cast of Oisín Thompson, with a reduced role this time around, and Tom Benjamin as Lane, Algie’s manservant, plus Natalie Bain as the vital to the plot Miss Prism and the excellent Robert Maskell as Canon Chasuble, all have their moments in the sun. The endorphins produced by this show gave a me good night’s sleep and I can’t thank anyone more than that.
And one further mention to who I believe is ‘Mary’, the lady whose laughter at the show swept us all along with her – you were a joy. For more details and tickets, head to.
