The Importance of Being Earnest
at Woodgrove High School

Reviewed on November 9, 2014

Zoe Le Menestrel
McLean High School
Submitted for publication to Washington Post - Loudoun

What is not to love about the name Ernest? It is a divine name, one with musicality and vibrations. Any man with such a name automatically inspires absolute confidence, and any woman without an Ernest in her life is to be pitied. Or at least aristocrats Cecily Cardew and Gwendolen Fairfax seem to think so. Their respective suitors, Messieurs John Worthing and Algernon Moncrieff, must have all their wits about them if they are to woo these two fastidious women. Both are about to find out the true importance of being earnest, in Woodgrove High School's play of the same name.

Oscar Wilde wrote The Importance of Being Earnest in 1895. His comedy enjoyed early success and has gone on to be his most permanently popular play. The entirely farcical plot tells of Worthing and Moncrieff's respective imaginary personae: Worthing has a made-up brother Ernest, while Moncrieff has a fictional invalid friend Bunbury. Both use these figures to escape their tedious lives, but trouble breeds when Worthing proposes to his beloved Gwendolen under the name of Ernest, while Moncrieff eavesdrops and learns of Worthing's address and beautiful ward, Miss Cardew. Moncrieff is instantly intrigued and rushes to pursue her love, also under the false name of Ernest. The two women meet and learn of their mutual love of men named Ernest, resulting in fierce jealousy, the unveiling of uncomfortable truths, and a multitude of hilarious moments.
Chris Consaul stole the show as the witty Algernon Moncrieff. He possessed outstanding energy, and effortlessly mocked his friends and seduced his sweetheart all in a superb British accent. His quips were exquisitely timed and his facials were delightfully crafted, both of which brought Wilde's words newfound hilarity. Consaul also built a beautiful relationship with scene partner Maddy Goggin (Cecily Cardew). Their endearing chemistry was utterly believable, especially amongst actors who at times struggled to create credible connections. Goggin, meanwhile, was absolutely adorable. Her doe-eyed innocence and playful banter gave her undeniable childish charm, and she also managed to maintain one of the strongest accents in the cast.

Although certain cast members executed their blocking in an overly forced manner, and at times lacked direction in their movement, most supporting actors gave praiseworthy performances. Maryann Hayden as the self-consumed, haughty Lady Bracknell was especially admirable. Her stiff, upright posture and falsetto voice produced a flawless caricature of the 19th Century English upper-class. Charlotte Kulak was an additional highlight as Cecily's bumbling governess, Miss Prism. The unusual intonations she used to deliver her lines were ridiculously funny, while her awkward amorous encounters with the equally blundering Reverend Canon Chausuble (played by actor Wyatt Ellerbeck) were enormously entertaining. And last, but certainly not least, Dillon Douglasson played the part of Algernon's pessimistic manservant Lane perfectly. His limited stage time in no way impeded the lasting effect he had on the audience.

The technical components incorporated were simple, but functional and fulfilled the play's needs. The student-built set consisted of a large revolve which allowed scenes to nimbly transition from a sumptuous English manor to a pleasant flower garden and back again. The running crew was silent and focused during scene changes, but a bit slow. Sound was solid; every actor was consistently audible.

Oscar Wilde's timeless British comedy is considered by many one of the funniest English farces ever written. This legacy is daunting for any theatre company, but Woodgrove High School was undeterred. Their production's excellent pacing and standout performers made for a thoroughly enjoyable afternoon.

Kelsey Loesch
Paul VI Catholic High School
Submitted for publication to Washington Post - Loudoun

Have you ever wanted to get away from it all? In Woodgrove High School's The Importance of Being Earnest that's exactly what John "Jack" Worthing wants to do. To get away from his regular life in the country he creates an alter ego, his fictional brother, Ernest. Eventually, both Jack and his friend Algernon's lies culminate in a Shakespearean chain of events including impersonation, mistaken identity, and confused lovers.

Oscar Wilde's satirical comedy, The Importance of Being Earnest, was first performed on February 14th in 1895 in St. James Theatre in London. Although his last published work, many called the successful play the highpoint of Wilde's career. The play is set in Victorian England and tells the story of two men who use alter egos in order to get out of social obligations. The play pokes fun of Victorian tradition and customs especially the pursuit of love.

The cast members' commitment to their comedic roles let their performances tell the at times complicated story. Chris Consaul immediately commanded the stage and kept the audience engaged in his portrayal of the witty Algernon Moncrieff. Consaul moved suavely and each one of his one-liners was handled with precise comedic timing and had the audience roaring with laughter. Worthing's young ward Cecily was played by Maddy Goggin. Goggin's flawless British accent and youthful movements led to a believable and enjoyable performance of a girl looking for love. The fantastic chemistry between Consaul and Goggin was extremely entertaining. In addition, Kyra Meyer embodied her ladylike character, Gwendolyn Fairfax, by her ease in the role and her composed posture.

Numerous supporting roles lent to the comedic tone of the show. The domineering Lady Bracknell was brought to life by Maryann Hayden. Hayden's use of a distinct, amusing voice for the portrayal of the aged socialite gave the character a vivacious presence. Both Wyatt Ellerbeck and Charlotte Kulak's performances of the rather awkward Canon Chausuble and Miss Prism were amusing and their surprising chemistry was even more enjoyable. Not to be forgotten is the brief role of Lane, Algernon's butler. Dillon P. Douglasson played the role with unmatched sarcasm and an uncanny ability for deadpan.

The stage's rotating design made scene changes simpler and the plain design of the set let the audience focus on the strong performances, rather than a distracting background. Scene changes were mostly handled well, with only some difficulty. The sound done by Chris Hunt and Jordan Payne was commendable. There were hardly any errors and each actor could be heard clearly. Some actors struggled with their demanding roles, but it didn't take away from the overall performance.

By the use of comedic timing and strongly developed characters, the cast of The Importance of Being Earnest told an engaging, easy to follow story and gave an overall "earnest" performance.

Lydia Gompper
George Mason High School
Submitted for publication to Patch.com - Loudoun

English accents and floor-length dresses. Cucumber sandwiches and bossy matriarchs. Lying men and babies found in black handbags. These are just a few of the things found in Woodgrove High School's production of Oscar Wilde's The Importance of Being Earnest. With a small, immensely talented cast, the show was about two too-short hours of laughter, romance, and mistaken identity, culminating with an ending that felt like the final puzzle piece falling into place.

Performed for the first time in 1895, The Importance of Being Earnest is a satirical comedy poking fun at the social conventions of Victorian England, particularly the institution of marriage. It is often considered to be Wilde's masterpiece, and has been performed all over the world. The plot circulates around two men, the "earnest" Mr. Jack Worthing (played by Matt Evangelisto) and the miscreant Algernon Moncrieff (Chris Consaul), who both pretend to be someone they're not in order to woo their lady loves: Gwendolen Fairfax (Kyra Meyers) and Cecily Cardew (Maddy Goggin), respectively. However, the men are blocked from marriage by the imperious Lady Bracknell (Maryann Hayden) and by the fact that neither girl wants to marry any man who isn't named Earnest.

In such an old play, the intended comedy can often be lost, bogged down by complicated wording and dated references. However, the actors and actresses of Woodgrove High School did not have this problem. They clearly understood their roles fully, and were able to portray the humor without a hiccup.

The play's clear ringer was Chris Consaul, whose comedic timing, charming physicality, and scene-stealing facial expressions were impeccable. His presence lit up the stage, and quite a few times he had me unable to breathe through my laughter. Few people could make talking with their mouth full so hilarious! He also played well with leading actress Maddy Goggin, whose supposedly-innocent wit and sweetness created excellent chemistry with his life-loving, Victorian bad-boy persona. Their romance had me squealing.

Maryann Hayden's Lady Bracknell made an impressively ridiculous antagonist. A control freak with an insensitive nature, snobbish posture, and hands made for money-grubbing, she had me chuckling, cringing, and shaking my head at all the right moments. Hayden should be applauded.

A note should also be given to sound technician Chris Hunt. In a high school production, it is difficult to find a sound system that doesn't crackle, hiss, or echo once throughout the entire performance, but this one never did.

Woodgrove High School's The importance of Being Earnest was an explosion of witty dialogue, fantastic characters, and glimpses of Victorian life that left the audience grinning. The nine-person cast was full of life and dedication, and should be very proud.

Amanda Hampton
Tuscarora High School
Submitted for publication to The Woodgrove Outlander

The shenanigans of members of the British upper crust are brought to life in Woodgrove High School's engaging performance of Oscar Wilde's The Importance of Being Earnest. The show was first performed in 1895 in London, England. It has had many revivals since its premiere, and was adapted three times for the silver screen. Earnest centers around two men living in England in the 1890s, John Worthing and Algernon Moncrieff, who have both taken to leading double lives in order to escape their various social and personal obligations. The audience follows them eagerly as they try to win the hearts of the sophisticated Gwendolyn and lovely Cecily, as many cases of mistaken identity and a large amount of chaos ensue.

The talented cast did an impressive job of embodying the most extreme characteristics of British aristocracy. Chris Consaul kept the audience in stitches with his hilarious portrayal of the charismatic and witty Algernon. His comedic timing was spot-on and he brought an effortless energy to the stage which kept viewers constantly engaged. His chemistry with Maddy Goggin, who played Cecily Cardew, was convincing and charming. Goggins captures the sweet, playful youthfulness of Cecily, and her English accent was commendable.

The characters of Miss Prism and Canon Chausable, portrayed by Charlotte Kulak and Wyatt Ellerbeck, were entertaining to watch and played off each other very well, adding another dimension of comedy to the already farcical plot. Some actors seemed uncomfortable in their roles at times, but overall the acting felt very convincing, and while the British accents sometimes threw off the actors' diction, they made up for it by keeping the accents consistent.

The set was well built and was true to the time period, especially in the sitting rooms that included rich blues and reds and tables complete with real tea and crumpets. The incorporation of the sliding doors as the centerpiece of the set, which the actors entered from as opposed to entering from the wings, helped the audience feel the authenticity of the show. The sound was pulled off without a hitch and there were no issues with the microphones. Kyra Meyers' and Ethan Samaha's makeup was appropriate for the era and very well done, especially with Canon Chausable. The effect of his bald cap and aging makeup was an asset to his performance.

Overall, the cast, directors, and crew of Woodgrove High School pulled off the classic play with wit and poise, while showing the audience the importance of being earnest.

Aaron Lichstrahl
South County Secondary School
Submitted for publication to The Woodgrove Outlander

Two men, two women, and one fake man. Woodgrove High School brings to the stage a hilarious, romantic, and enjoyable show in the classic comedy, The Importance of Being Earnest. This show, written by Oscar Wilde, takes place in 1895. It has settings in the city of London and the countryside of England. This play is a satire about the British Aristocracy.

The plot revolves around two young men, John Worthing (Matt Evangelisto) and Algernon Moncrieff (Chris Consaul). The play opens with both men talking, and John telling Algernon of how he has created a fake brother, Ernest, who he pretends to be when in London. John uses this name to woo Gwendolen Fairfax (Kyra Myers) using this false identity. Later, Algernon uses the same fake name to win the heart of John's ward, Cecily Cardew (Maddy Goggin). Everything is going fine for the men, until both women meet, revealing they are both engaged to an Ernest Worthing.

Consaul was very impressive in his role. He used great stage movement and voice inflection to establish his tone and emotions. He also displayed tremendous body control and facials when not speaking. He established strong relationships with John and with his lover Cecily. He maintained a steady accent and moved around the stage very well. His dynamic character won over the hearts of the audience. Evangilisto delivered a solid performance, really taking advantage of pauses to create funny moments in the show. Groggin was also very enjoyable. Her romantic chemistry with Algernon was very believable. She also used very effective facials to express her emotions and feelings.

There were also some very good performances by featured actors and actresses. Lady Bracknell (Maryann Hayden), mother of Gwendolen and Aunt of Algernon, had a very solid performance. She demanded the attention of the audience when she was on stage. She kept a very strong accent and moved around the stage with purpose. Rev. Canon Chausuble (Wyatt Ellerbeck) also had a nice performance. Although not very important to the plot, Ellerbeck was involved in all his scenes and had very good comedic timing. He also had a very funny and enjoyable relationship with Miss Prism (Charlotte Kulak).

The set of this show was simple. It fit the setting well and was effective for what was needed. The sound in the show was well done. Besides a few crackles from the speakers, all actors were able to be heard. The costumes were also nice, fitting the characters and the time period well.

Some problems with the show were involvement. During moments of humor or shock, there seemed to be stoic faces on some of the actors. There was also some lack of dynamism in the actions and voices of characters. However, the show had a very good tempo and plenty of energy. With all the memorable characters, hilarious moments, and enjoyable relationships, Woodgrove put together a wonderful production of the classic story.