Review: 'The Importance of Being Earnest' at Trinity Rep

Beth F. Milles, head of the MFA Directing Program for the Brown/Trinity Consortium directs Oscar Wilde's The Importance of Being Earnest at Trinity Rep's Chace Theater. The cast includes Trinity veterans as well as students in the Consortium.

In Earnest, Jack (nee John) Worthing (Mauro Hantman) is well-off gentleman of means who, though abandoned as an infant, was adopted by a wealthy family. Upon his adopted father's death, Jack became the ward of his father's granddaughter, the beautiful, 18-year old Cecily (Rebecca Gibel).

For convenience, Jack has created a fictitious younger, irresponsible, brother "Earnest" who lives in town and conducts his life without regard to what society might think. All that Jack has done wrong, becomes Earnest's folly; leaving Jack's reputation and standing intact.

Algernon (Karl Gregory), Jack's dearest friend, has himself created a fictional friend "Bunbury". Bunbury, unfortunately, has a weak constitution and is frequently ill. When Algernon wishes to get out of a social engagement, he regretfully declines, explaining that his dear friend Bunbury has beckoned him to his bedside.

Jack has proposed marriage to Algernon's cousin Gwendolen (Angela Brazil), but faces formidable obstacles. Gwendolen's mother, Lady Bracknell (Janice Duclos) disapproves of everything and everyone. Lady Bracknell would not even consider letting her daughter marry a man whose can only trace his family tree back to an handbag that was abandoned at Victoria Station. For her part, Gwendolen knows nothing of Jack and his obligations, as she has fallen in love with "Earnest". An Earnest by any other name would not be as sweet.

Intrigued (in the least respectable manner) by Jack's descriptions of Cecily, Algernon travels to Jack's country house, where he announces himself as "Earnest". Cecily has had schoolgirl fantasies about "Earnest", fueled by his bad-boy reputation; all noted in her diary and kept from her governess Miss Prism (Barbara Meek). Emily and Algernon are smitten before they even meet. Except...Cecily loves "Earnest" and knows nothing of Algernon.

If all that sounds confusing... the shame is mine, not the playwright's.

Mauro Hantman gives a fine performance as rakish Jack Worthing. Hantman plays Jack as the straight man. The character, as well as the core of the play, remains firmly in the dramatic while the comedy unfolds around him.

In his Trinity debut, Karl Gregory steals scenes liberally and sucessfully, as is his character's jester modus operandi. In Gregory's hands, Algernon is unapologetically foppish (as was Wilde).

Angela Brazil plays Gwendolen on the edge. Brazil successfully captures and communicates Gwendolen's independent streak while submitting to the dominating Lady Bracknell, played divinely by Janice Duclos (who knows how to steal a scene, herself).

In her Trinity debut, Rebecca Gibel carefully matches her fellow actor's tone and level; giving what appears to be an effortless performance as the virtuous Cecily.

Patrick Mulryan, also in his Trinity debut, gives an intriguing, almost wordless, performance. Entirely without ego, Mulryan has a dance solo between acts two and three. He looks like Morrisey, but dances like a hyper-active Robert Palmer Girl. The solo is surreal and disconnected, but amusing all on its own.

Barbara Meek and Stephen Berenson each give solid comedic performances. Berenson plays multiple characters, each one funnier than the last.

Director Milles has overlaid Wilde with a 1970's Brit-com vibe. The gorgeous costumes (hats to die for!) by William Lane, and Michael McGarty's vast and beautiful set are interpretations of 1895 England. The physicality and pace Milles creates, however, feel more like Are You Being Served or Keeping Up Appearances. She has hyper-stylized some of the characters' movements, including a clever, in-unison, back kick and tiny comic touches like having characters POP their "P"s liberally.

With only the words on a page, Oscar Wilde is caddish, irreverent and unfailingly witty. In the hands of Milles, with the depth of resources that Trinity Rep and the Consortium has to offer, the words become corporeal; the wit wildly heightened.

The Importance of Being Earnest plays through May 10, 2009 at Trinity Rep's Chace Theater.

Regular ticket prices begin at $20.00 each with 12^th row bench seats available for $10.00 each. Tickets can be purchased at the Box Office which is located at 201 Washington St., Providence, RI; by phone at 401-351-4242 or online at www.trinityrep.com.

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