The Importance of Being Earnest
at Saint John Paul II Academy

Reviewed on November 21, 2015

Matthew Bonachea
Somerset Academy Arts Conservatory
Submitted for publication to Floridatheateronstage.com

First performed at the Saint James' Theatre in London in 1895, "The Importance of Being Earnest," is a comedic play by Oscar Wilde that takes much professionalism and dedication to perform in modern times. Saint John Paul II Academy was quite determined to pay close attention to the detail of the time period, and deliver the story in a comedic manner.

The play is comprised of three acts that unfold an interesting story of romance, while invoking laughter from the audience. The story begins with playful bickering between friends Jack Worthing and Algernon Moncrieff over a simple cigarette case. When Jack explains how he sometimes goes by the name Ernest, the witty Algernon cannot help himself but investigate the origins of the alias.

Nik Ramadan played the hilariously sassy role of Algernon Moncrieff, and provided the majority of the comedy in the show. Line after line, he brought his own talent and interpretation of the text into the show and made it all the more interesting. When spoken to by his aunt, Lady Bracknell (played by Audri Harrypersad), he exhibited a sense of respect that showed his talent through his ability to give his character a strong range of emotion.

Algernon's butler, Lane (played by Blake Earl), complemented the other characters in the show with his dull, and somewhat depressing, character. He brought much needed comic relief into some of the duller moments and did so in a very natural way. Reverend Canon Chasuble, DD (played by Coleton Santacroce) helped turn dramatic moments in the second and third acts into comedic ones with his large and exaggerated movements and lines.

Publicity and Marketing Director Jaelyne Vigoa showed a strong attention to detail when she used an actual photo of the actors who played Jack Worthing and Algernon Moncrieff to design the program and ticket. The production was executed flawlessly by the production staff.

In staying true to the time period, accents are essential. However, some characters showed some difficulty with the dialect and could have used more development and training. Inconsistencies with the accent was, at times, distracting, but did not detract from the overall quality of the show. Some of the characters were not as developed as others, and a few were somewhat lackluster and did not add anything to the quality of the show.

Being a very difficult show to produce in high school, Saint John Paul II Academy had a hard task at hand, and tackled it with ease.

Marisa Schloneger
Cooper City High School
Submitted for publication to Floridatheateronstage.com

At some point in a person's life, they have wished to be someone else. However, what if they actually became that person? In Saint John Paul ll Academy's production of "The Importance of Being Earnest," you discover the story about the hilarious charade that is Ernest Worthing.

Written by Oscar Wilde in 1895, "The Importance of Being Earnest," was written to be a farcical comedy. It follows the stories of two men who are trying to escape their personas due to the distresses of social responsibilities. In the play, the old Victorian lifestyle is proven to have a few burdens carried along with it, such as social status and love and marriage, but are told with a comical twist.

Jack Worthing (Charlie Metzger) is a young man with a bit of a secret; he goes by the name, "Ernest." Although it may seem like a small fault, when he proposes to his love Gwendoline (Julia Hartmann), she admits that most of her excitement comes from the fact that she's marrying a man named, "Ernest." After multiple failed attempts of getting her to say that she'd marry a man with a different name, he gives in to the idea of getting secretly rechristened, "Ernest". Meanwhile, Jack's good friend, Algernon (Nik Ramadan), pays a visit to Jack's young ward Cecily (Arleyce Lima). He decides to use his friend's tactic and introduce himself as Ernest. Soon after falling in love, Algernon proposes and finds himself to be in the same predicament as his dear friend Jack. Ironically, like Gwendoline, Cecily too adores the name Ernest and is adamant that she marry a man with that name.

Both Metzger and Ramadan were incredible with their high energy and animated comedy. When the two had scenes together, or even alone, they brought life to the stage. Lima captured her character extremely well, and delivered her lines in a very subtle but comedic way. While there were a few characters that may have lacked expression, all together there was a scarcity of dull moments.

Other characters such as Lady Bracknell (Audri Harrypersad), Miss Prism (Jaelyne Vigoa), and Reverend Canon Chasuble (Coleton Santacroce) were truly captivating and pulled the production together. Whether it was an extravagantly ridiculous costume or a humorous biblical reference, each of them was entertaining in their own special way and were truly attention grabbing.

Each set was very different from the other, but very effective. It made you feel as if you were actually in the scenes with the characters. Although there was minimal lighting, it was just enough to justify the play and the sound was very clear.

In the end, as all truths came out, the declaration that being yourself is what will make you prevail became present. Saint John Paul ll Academy's production of "The Importance of Being Earnest" was truthfully a must see performance. And that's the importance of being earnest!

Isabella Cring
Western High School
Submitted for publication to Floridatheateronstage.com

In the age of Queen Victoria, the men were gentle and the ladies were covered up. The world was prim, proper, and boring. But, that is not the case in the Oscar Wilde play, "The Importance Of Being Earnest." This farcical comedy satirizes the aristocracy of Victorian England. First performed in London in 1895, the play follows two haughty men who, in order to escape burdensome social interactions, have created entirely separate identities for themselves. Their other personas get them into trouble when they get the women they love involved. Saint John Paul II Academy presents this "Trivial comedy for serious people" with loads of charm, grace, and corsets.

It is often difficult, with a period piece like this, to pull off elaborate sets without seeming tacky or gimmicky. Saint John Paul II's simple approach made the ambiance tasteful and refined. Scene changes were few and far between, and when they did happen, they were quick and seamless. On-que spotlights and flawless audio execution made the show a smooth one.

The endearingly flawed leading man, Jack Worthing, was played by Charlie Metzger. His physicality and comic timing made him impossible to look away from. His counterpart, Algernon Moncrieff (Nik Ramadan) was a gracious acting partner to anyone he shared the stage with. His chemistry with Metzger was absolutely dazzling and had the audience in stitches. Ramadan also opened the play with a performance on a grand piano that nicely set the tone for the play. Another shining man was Coleton Santacroce in the role of Rev. Canon Chasuble, DD. While his energetic presence wasn't on stage often, he was by far one of the most memorable characters in the play.

The ladies of the show were nothing short of dynamic. The classic "disapproving mother" character, Lady Bracknell, was played by Audri Harrypersad. Her portrayal of the boisterous woman was hilarious and ever so relatable. Her daughter, Gwendoline Fairfax (Julia Hartmann), was diminutive in her characterization and left the audience (and her love interest) eating out of the palm of her hand. The young beauty, Cecily Cardew (Arleyce Lima), had hilarious timing and delightful chemistry with her fellow actors. Her portrayal of the slightly disturbed teenager was subtle and absolutely engaging.

Saint John Paul II Academy's production of "The Importance of Being Earnest" was a captivating piece that captured the outrageousness of Victorian aristocracy. Through antics, misunderstandings, and petticoats, Saint John Paul II Academy taught us that while we don't always have to be honest, it is of the utmost importance to always be earnest.

Mandy Figueroa
Somerset Academy Arts Conservatory
Submitted for publication to Floridatheateronstage.com

"The Importance of Being Earnest" is a farcical comedy in which the two protagonists, Jack Worthing and Algernon Moncrieff, obtain fictitious identities in order to avoid certain social obligations. Written by Oscar Wilde and first performed in 1895, this Victorian London based play follows a series of ironic situations caused by these satirical characters resulting in a comedic performance from a flurry of actors.

Saint John Paul ll Academy's production of "The Importance of Being Earnest" had a variety of contributing and mediocre elements. Although beautiful and well arranged, the set started out mildly inconsistent and incoherent. However, as the play went on, the sets became more and more expertly crafted, and by the third act we were immersed in a Victorian household. These sets were transported by an efficient stage crew that made good use of their time and were hardly noticed. Each actor for the majority of the show was followed by a spotlight that was at times slightly distracting, but mostly well managed and attentive to the movement on stage. The costumes in this production seemed to display a significant amount of color psychology between characters, and didn't fail to match to piece accurately. The logo for this production was impressively student-done, and features the actual, digitally-fixed profiles of the actors who played our two protagonists.

The cast of this production had varying levels of character development and energy. The two lead actors, Charlie Metzger and Nik Ramadan, who play Jack Worthing and Algernon Moncrieff, respectively, displayed a high contrast to one another. This contrast in character was the main source of comedy in this farce, and they managed to grab the attention of the audience separately and collaboratively. While both pretending to be the same person at differing times, their face-offs never failed to produce a roar of laughter, and the talent emitting from these two was clear.

Arleyce Lima, who portrayed Jack's young and slightly crazed niece, Cecily Cardew, made acting choices that provided a huge comedic reaction. She played these moments in an original and serious way, which made her entire situation even more humorous and authentic. Coleton Santacroce, who played the eccentric Reverend Canon Chasuble, D.D. stood out in his performance with big gestures and creative reactions. Lady Bracknell, an overbearing aunt, portrayed by Audri Harrypersad, managed to create an antagonistic figure in a skillful way. Lady Bracknell's daughter, the lovely Gwendoline Fairfax, played by Julia Hartmann, displayed a wonderful chemistry and hilarious tension with Cecily Cardew when on stage together. Although not every actor displayed a full energy-leveled performance, the majority of the show allowed the characters to build and manifest.

"The Importance of Being Earnest" at Saint John Paul ll Academy mostly captured the farcical comedy it was meant to produce. The acting and technical aspects of this production were coherent and well-displayed, and resulted in an enjoyable performance from a variety of actors. It was a pleasure to get to discover, "The Importance of Being Earnest."

Savannah Zona
Boca Raton High School
Submitted for publication to Floridatheateronstage.com

Muffins were flinging, and humor was abounding at Saint John Paul II Academy's rendition of "The Importance of Being Earnest." Balancing the 19th century's absurd notions about marriage with its insistence for such a commitment, this production captured the comedic sincerity of the classic farce, and showed that "the very essence of romance is uncertainty."

First performed in London in 1895, Oscar Wilde's "The Importance of Being Earnest" is a story of irony and deception. Wilde satirizes the ludicrous ideals that surround the institution of marriage in Victorian England with a brilliant use of comical deception. Two friends (John Worthing and Algernon Moncrieff) are engaged to be married, however, they have assumed a common false name in order to win the affection of their beloveds. Each man goes by the name of John's nonexistent brother Ernest. Each of their fiancés have their heart set on marrying a man with said name and feel as though they would not love the men if their names were not so. Therefore, being that both men are identified under the same name, when the fiancés Cecily and Gwendoline meet, they believe that they are engaged to the same person. As the men try to regain the approval of the women, they discover the true importance of being earnest.

In its entirety, the show was packed with splendid comedic timing and honorable technical elements. Many cast members infused their characters with a sort of genuine realism that enhanced pertinent moments within the show. Though frantic at times, the technicians were overall competent in their stage duties. The crew was diligent in transforming the stage between scenes, and was successful in creating a subtle ambiance of the Victorian age through the hues of light that illuminated the stage.

Admirably, the crew paid special attention to detail. Many implements were wonderfully thought out. For example, the show's merchandise was a design containing two silhouettes of actors from the production. Also notable were the color themes developed in the costumes of John and Algernon. Algernon wore red during Act I, and his counterpart John wore simple beige. In Act II, when Algernon assumed the name of Ernest (the identity which John was already assuming) he wore a beige suit with red pin stripes, which enhanced the combination of his own character with that of the new found identity he now shared with John.

Nik Ramadan as Algernon fully committed to his role. Whether he was munching on muffins or professing his affection for his dearest Cecily, Ramadan commanded the stage with his spot on comedic timing, effortless naturalism, and confident demeanor. Helping to develop a dynamic chemistry with Algernon was Charlie Metzger as Jack Worthing. While some actors in the show were inconsistent with their complexity, Metzger and Ramadan led the hilarity with their vivacious range of inflections and emotional commitment.

Wilde said: "In matters of grave importance, style, not sincerity, is the vital thing." Well, the cast and crew of "The Importance of Being Earnest" performed with a memorable essence of style, and being that "memory is the diary that we all carry about with us," Saint John Paul II Academy's production will surely be written in its audience's mental diary for years to come.

Savannah Rootes
Boca Raton High School
Submitted for publication to The Forum

"The Importance of Being Earnest," presented by Saint John Paul II Academy, was a clever rendition of the classic story by Oscar Wilde. With well portrayed characters and excellent comedic timing, the show was enjoyable start to finish.

First performed in 1895, "The Importance of Being Earnest" is a farcical piece, highlighting the absurdities of the higher classes during the 1800s. The show focuses around John Worthing, a country man who takes on a persona of his fictitious brother, "Ernest Worthing," when traveling to the city in order to let loose and have fun. However, things get messy when his fiancé's cousin, Algernon Moncrieff, decides to take on the persona of Ernest in order to win over John's ward, Cecily Cardew, resulting in a hilarious mix up.

The nature of a period piece makes it difficult for many reasons. Diction can often be a hurdle as well as making sure the audience understands what you are saying through inflection. Although the actors struggled to maintain their accents throughout the show, they were articulate and, for the most part, knew what they were saying and portrayed their message accurately. This made a show written over a hundred years ago relatable and enjoyable.

Throughout the show, one actor who truly brought his character to life was Nik Ramadan, as Algernon Moncrieff. Ramadan's movement and inflection perfectly embodied the character and his comedic timing was superb, making him stand out in the scenes he was in. Coleton Santacroce was refreshing in his roll of Reverend Canon Chasuble, bringing to life any scene he entered. Your eyes were drawn to him as he was constantly interacting with the scene, even when he wasn't speaking. His voice inflections and facial expressions were engaging and amusing.

As a whole, the cast worked very well together. Although the show lacked gusto in the beginning, one can expect this from the exposition. Throughout the show the energy picked up, and there were few times when it seemed slow or lacking momentum. During the heightened moments of the show, the cast was able to keep the energy high, without going over the top and causing the scene to become overwhelming.

The costuming of the show fit the characters well. The choice to put John in white and Algernon in red, emphasizing the idea that they foil each other throughout the show, was an excellent one. The women's purple dresses also painted a parallel between high society of the time and royalty. Although simple, the set was able to accurately contrast the life of the city to that of the country, and both the lighting and set went hand in hand with showing that comparison.

All in all, "The Importance of Being Earnest" was enjoyable and tickling, as well as engaging. All of the aspects of the show came together to depict the time period and story well. I thoroughly enjoyed the production, and that's my earnest opinion.