A Stylish but superficial “Earnest” in Gananoque: I 000 Islands Playhouse.
Photo. Jay Kopinski. Tess Degenstein as Cecily & Brett Christopher as Algernon.
The comedy, The Importance of Being Ernest by Oscar Wilde, one of the 19th century’s greatest wits, is currently playing at the 1000 Islands Playhouse. For anyone unfamiliar with the play, it concerns two wealthy playboys who have been leading double lives to escape their boredom with the restrictions of polite society. When they both use the alias “Earnest,” the plot becomes chaotic and full of twists and turns, all happening in Wilde’s witty dialogue.
This is a very clever and stylish play but this production, directed by Daryl Cloran, seems to be mostly frosting and not much cake. At times, for example with Cecily’s rather contemporary method of serving tea to Gwendolen, it degenerates into slapstick. This play is not a farce and Wilde has written characters that can certainly be played believably. Everyone here, with a couple of exceptions, is working so hard at the style that any element of reality is lost. Style is meaningless if there’s no substance.
Both Deborah Drakeford as Miss Prism and Jody Richardson as Reverend Chasuble seem too young for the roles and deliver flat one-dimensional performances. Tess Degenstein plays Cecily with such extreme naiveté it borders on idiocy. As Lady Bracknell, Martha Irving gives us a one note character – a disapproving snob without a smidgen of a sense of comedy. Her roller-coaster vocal delivery makes her difficult to understand.
Alison Deon has a slightly better handle on her role as Gwendolen, and we get flashes of reality. Oddly, Kirk Smith’s Jack comes off as stuffy and middle-aged, an unlikely companion to Brett Christopher’s devil-may-care Algernon. Mr. Christopher has managed to create a believable character and still maintain the style.
The cast stand-out is, not surprisingly, Ian Clark in the small dual roles of two different butlers. His effort to pick up a book is a perfect example of making a believable and funny something out of nothing. His Act II tea serving without ever breaking character or style is worth the price of admission.
The technical production values are high. Dana Osborne has designed a lovely flowing shape around the proscenium. The periaktoi panels that change from screen designs to garden trellises and finally to books and windows are very clever. Her costumes are also good, especially Gwendolen’s in Act I. Oz Weaver’s lighting is excellent, as is Kevin Tighe’s original music. It’s appropriate to the period and very well timed.
As for Director Daryl Cloran, it’s obvious he’s more at home with farce than with stylish wit. For example the Act I set change is clever and fun, while the one in Act II is broad slapstick. Granted it gets laughs as do other broad moments, but the subtle wit is missing, as is three-dimensional characterization. One small thing – during the search off-stage for the handbag, some characters are looking at the ceiling while all the noise is obviously off right. There’s more to the play than style and silliness.
“The Importance of Being Earnest” – 1000 Islands Playhouse in Gananaque through Aug.23 Tkts: 613-382-7020
THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING EARNEST produced by the 1000 Island Playhouse
CREATIVE TEAM
Director: Daryl Cloran
Set & Costumes: Dana Osborne
Sound: Kevin Tighe
Lighting: Oz Weaver
CAST
Algernon: Brett Christopher
Lane Merriman: Ian D. Clark
Cecily: Tess Degenstein
Gwendolen: Alison Dean
Miss Prism: Deborah Drakeford
Lady Bracknell: Martha Irving
Reverend Chasuble: Jody Richardson
Jack: Kirk Smith