“The Importance of Being Earnest” Reviewed by Julia W. Rath

*** Lighthearted and frivolous, “The Importance of Being Earnest” is a comedy of manners that has been thoroughly modernized and updated to embrace queer love. This reimagining of Oscar Wilde’s Victorian classic is gay in all the best senses of the word. It is not meant to be great art but, rather, lends itself to a fun evening of entertainment at a time when all sorts of romantic love can be possible.

Adapted by Dusty Brown and director Elizabeth Swanson, the story now takes place in Chicago and Saugatuck, Michigan, in the year 2024. Both the original and this version have the same basic plot: where the characters believe that having the given name Ernest means that a person would necessarily be sincere, frank, honest, positive, and determined. In other words, the name would be indicative of the person who possesses it. The misplaced reliance on the power of this name affects each and every character, especially Jack Worthing (Johnard Washington) and Algernon Moncrieff (Jack Seijo in a heartfelt performance). Both characters have from time to time adopted the name Ernest, and as the play unfolds, we see how they eventually want to rid themselves of some portion of this burdensome alter ego.

Kade Cox is extraordinary in the role as Gwendolen, Jack’s love interest. In an intentionally over-the-top performance, they make the show funny, silly, and wonderful, especially parading around in all sorts of exaggerated hair, makeup, and costumes! Rain Foiles, the costume designer, gets high marks for all of the garments worn by the cast, especially Gwendolen’s unusual and gender-embracing green hair, black see through blouse, and later their green glasses and slicked-back blonde hair and fishnet hose. All of this is so very whimsical and funny! Then there’s Cecily (Andi Muriel), an ingenue who is Jack’s grandniece and who attracts Algernon’s affections. Other characters include Augustus Blacknell (Michael Reyes), who is apparently both father and mother to Gwendolen and uncle to Algernon; Miss Prism (Lynne Baker); Dr. Chasuble (Crystal Claros); and the incomparable Merriman/Lane (Matt Keeley), who engages the audience even before the show begins.

The beginning moves a bit slowly as we learn who all the characters are and their various motivations and interests. It picks up once the roles are established in the audience’s mind. We see not just the relationships between the characters but who is attracted to whom and why: with the object being love, marriage, and long-term devotion.

I loved the two main sets, beautifully conceived and designed by Manuel Ortiz for such a small stage. The scenes are depicted through the use of long hand-painted draperies reminiscent of shower curtains with grommets at the top. However, since the first scene takes place inside an apartment in Chicago in the North Halsted neighborhood, it would have been better had the audience been clued in from the onset about the locale. Seeing a Chicago flag hanging in the background or a poster of the Chicago Water Tower on one of the walls would have helped. That said, it was a nice touch to see the LGBTQ+ rainbow flag flying in the drawing of the Saugatuck home. Note that Emma Linnae’s lighting and Heath Hays’ sound work well for this show as well as Jyreika Guest’s intimacy design.

Basically, this show is a farce where the fiction of the name of Ernest creates dramatic ironies and missteps among the characters. As my guest put it, “The story does not take itself too seriously.” Much like Shakespeare’s comedies, everybody finds their true love at the end. In addition to various aspects of the tale being intentionally convoluted, the coincidences are clever if not outright wacky, and the wit does not disappoint.

Strawdog Theatre’s production of “The Importance of Being Earnest” is playing through June 30, 2024, at Rivendell Theatre, 5779 N. Ridge Avenue, in Chicago.

General Admission Tickets are free, but you need to make a reservation.
It is optional to make a donation in support of their free productions and programs like this one!

Although $15 is suggested, it could be any amount. You can change the suggested donation to any number, including $0.

Performance schedule:

Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays at 7:30 p.m.
Sundays at 3:00 p.m.

For more information, go to: https://www.strawdog.org/the-importance-of-being-earnest or contact the Box Office at 773-334-7728.

To purchase tickets, see: https://www.tickettailor.com/events/strawdogtheatrecompany/1260394.

For general information about the theatre and its other offerings, visit https://www.strawdog.org/

To see what others are saying, visit www.theatreinchicago.com , go to Review Round-Up and click at “The Importance of Being Earnest”.