Written by: Rebecca Straits (Rjs006@marietta.edu)
Marietta’s annual Shakespeare By The River concluded once again last week at the Muskingum Park Gazebo. This year, the theatre at Marietta College had a production of The Importance of Being Earnest by Oscar Wilde.
Set in Victorian era England, the story primarily follows Jack Worthing, played by Nathan Sloan, a plain man with a strange secret and even stranger origins, followed by his flamboyant bachelor friend Algernon Moncrieff, played by Kline Howell, as they scheme for love. The play was presented in three Acts starting at 8:00 P.M. and ending at 10:00 P.M.
The play also follows Jack’s and Algernon’s love interests. Jazmyn Taylor played the role of Gwendolen Fairfax, a young London woman who dreams of marrying a man named Earnest and Cecily Cardew, played by Maggie Somerville, who is an imaginative eighteen-year-old girl who has the same dreams of marrying a man named Earnest.
This production was charming. The banter between the actors felt real, and the classical renditions of modern pop music played during intermission added a nice modern mix to the play that didn’t take away from its Victorian era setting.
Like previous Shakespeare By The River performances, there were actors of all ages demonstrating their abilities on stage. Suzanne Walker played Lady Bracknell, an uptight woman who refuses to let her daughter, Gwendolen, marry Jack because of his mysterious origins. Vanessa Rake played Miss Prism, the governess to Cecily and love interest to Dr. Chasuble, played by Chris Glaser.
Unfortunately, the final showing of Marietta College’s production of The Importance of Being Earnest was canceled due to bad weather.
Overall, the production crew and actors put on a wonderful performance of this Oscar Wilde classic and made it fun and engaging for all who attended.
The play was scheduled from September 10, 11, 13, 17, 18, 19 from 8:00 P.M. to 10:00 P.M. at the Muskingum Park Gazebo and was free for everyone. The annual New Plays in One Day festival will be returning to the Hermann Fine Arts Center this October. To keep up with the Theatre Department’s productions, visit them at marietta.edu/theatre-season.
