The Importance of Being Earnest
at Northwood High School

Reviewed on November 17, 2018

Bette Vajda
St. Stephen's & St. Agnes School
Submitted for publication to Cappies News

Dry, witty, and entertaining, Oscar Wilde's ‘The Importance of Being Earnest' remains as charming and humorous as it did in 1895, and it shines on Northwood High School's stage. The play chronicles the story of two friends, John Worthing and Algernon Moncrieff, who each maintain a fictional persona in order to escape irritating social events. The two get tangled up in the web of their own deceit, however, when they each fall for women who believe them to be people they're not.

The show's leads, Isaac Umanzor as John Worthing and Miguel Cuesta as Algernon Moncrief, served up Wilde's banter comfortably, establishing a rapport between their characters from the very first scene. Umanzor treated his character's relationship with Gwendolen Fairfax (Elaina Giaudrone) tenderly and effectively, and the two had great onstage chemistry, demonstrated by the two light kisses in Act One. Giaudrone established equally good chemistry with Sophia Willis playing Cecily Cardew. The moments when the women were onstage together were easily the most riveting of the play. Cuesta knew his character very well and brought extra humor to it when he ate all the sweets off the table while watching Cecily and Gwendolen fight, for instance.

Comedic standouts were Consuela Watts as Lady Bracknell and Helena Moulou as Lane/Merriman. Watts delivered her character's often ridiculous ‘advice' with chipper, decisive energy, a very consistent British accent, and excellent stage presence as she strode from place to place. Moulou provided a breath of fresh air in every scene she was in, allowing the audience to see, through her reactions, the ridiculousness of the behavior of the upper class.

Sound (Rowan Arnold, Senia Gonzales, Nicholas Quintana and Ethan Zoz) was used sparingly but to great effect. Algernon's ‘piano playing' was perfectly timed, starting and ending right on cue, and furthering the realism of the scene. The lights (Ryan Hoskinson, Simon Sinnreich, and Nhi Tan) were mellow and golden for the indoor scenes and bluer and brighter for the outdoor scenes, allowing the audience to immerse themselves in whatever landscape was portrayed. The microphones were impeccably balanced, and though the set rarely changed, it was always just intricate enough to be believable, but never distracted from the action. Props (Asha Burtin) were perfect, and the fact that the cookies were edible was a wonderful touch.

Wilde once said that "In matters of grave importance, style, not sincerity, is the vital thing." ‘The Importance of Being Earnest' at Northwood High School had both style and sincerity, delivering a delicate, diverting, and downright funny ‘wilde' ride.

Dagny Scannell
Bishop Ireton High School
Submitted for publication to Cappies News 2

Two stories, two romances, and two ...Ernests? Northwood High School took the audience on a whimsical and enjoyable ride, while also exploring the social setting of 19th century England in their production of The Importance of Being Earnest. Through twists and turns, honesty and deception, Northwood was able to give a truly unforgettable performance.

Written by Oscar Wilde over a century ago, this classic play has remained popular over the years. First performed in February of 1895 in London, The Importance of Being Earnest follows two men, Jack Worthing and his friend Algernon Moncreif, in their attempts to woo their respective love interests. However, things aren't always what they seem, and the two men use their budding relationships as an escape from their real lives and become entangled in their separate relationships by using the same false name: Ernest. Their personalities (and names) shift between the city and country, creating foolish and completely unavoidable conflict that, along with the witty and cleverly written script, kept the audience giggling throughout the performance.

This show would not have been the same without the two leading men, who were skillfully portrayed by Isaac Umanzor (John) and Miguel Cuesta (Algernon). These two both did a proficient job in their roles and were especially good taking the little moments in between dialogue to build their individual characters. In addition to this, Umanzor specifically had excellent pacing in the delivery of his lines, which helped the audience understand the refined text. Cuesta, on the other hand, was most notable for his physicality and excelled by adding to scenes even when he was not speaking.

Although the show revolves around these two men, the actresses playing Gwendolen Fairfax and Cecily Cardew (Elaina Giaudrone and Sophia Willis respectively) were hardly forgotten. Giaudrone, who was onstage in all three acts, did a superb job of adding to each of her scenes naturally and her realistic inflection and physical movements helped draw the audience even further into the story. Willis, while she was only seen in the second and third acts, contributed impressively to the rise in energy and commitment that was exhibited as this show progressed. The scenes with these two women together were especially strong, and the chemistry between them really helped show their character development. Not only were these two women very talented, but they were also complemented by other strong actresses. Lady Bracknell (Consuela Watts) and Miss Prism (Dyuti Basu) both did an excellent job in becoming absorbed in their character's identity and remaining committed until the curtain closed.

Apart from the actors, the technical elements were all strong, with details in the set specifically that helped define the three separate acts. Each of these acts was in a new location, but the feel of each scene (between the sets, props, sound, and lights) was very similar, providing the audience with seamless transitions that allowed them to stay engaged throughout the entire show.

In the seemingly prim and proper society of Victorian England, the shenanigans of Jack and Algernon had the audience rolling on the floor. The actors did a wonderful job filling up the stage with their acting, and their complete comprehension of the text was evident in their inflection and physicality. The Importance of Being Earnest at Northwood High School was a witty and enjoyable production and the matinee performance was even more delightful and engaging than an afternoon tea.

Lena Weiman
St. Stephen's & St. Agnes School
Submitted for publication to Patch.com

What happens when you mix multiple alter egos, budding romance, and just the right amount of tea? Why Northwood High School's production of Oscar Wilde's The Importance of being Earnest, of course!

Ernest, also known as John Worthing, finds himself stuck between his two lives. On the one hand, he has to be honorable and even earnest, while caring for his ward, Cecily Cardew, in the country. On the other hand, his city persona, Ernest, has become enamored with more than just the atmosphere of the big city. He has fallen in love with the alluring Gwendolen Fairfax, but will his real life get in the way? Another Ernest, also known as Algernon Moncrief, finds himself in a similar predicament. His life is in the city, but his fictitious friend, Bunbury, and his new found love, who just so happens to be John's ward, Cecily, live in the country. Watch as lies are unraveled, romances flourish, and the past is uncovered in this "trivial comedy for serious people."

Northwood High School took this classic play and Victorian humor and brought it to life. The three act show was full of wit and wordplay that the actors illustrated nicely through their physical and facial acting. Each actor took on the challenge of adopting British accents and Victorian cadence and created believable characters through their vocal performances. The non stop humor mixed with the complex plot made for an energetic performance.

The conflicted John Worthing was portrayed wonderfully by Isaac Umanzor. His sometimes subtle humor and well timed responses added a level of sophistication to the role. His mischievous counterpart, Algernon, was played beautifully by Miguel Cuesta. His dry humor and somewhat aloof manner added a beautiful complement to Umanzor.

Supporting actress Elaina Giaudrone stood out through her dynamic portrayal of Gwendolen Fairfax. Her high energy and perfect comedic timing elevated her character to a whole new level. The tension between her and Cecily (Sophia Willis) when they thought they were engaged to the same man, created a wonderfully tense yet perfectly comedic scene. Giaudrone and Willis played off of each other with such conviction and passion that it was hard to forget that it was only a scene in a play.

The technical aspects of the show played out wonderfully. The Victorian sets and costumes, along with the effective stage managing by Jack Stoddard, and the hard work of the stage crew (Nhi Tan, Grayson Pipher, and Nick Quintana) made for a smooth show and interesting visuals.

Overall, this show was not one to miss. The witty dialogue and calculated timing kept the audience laughing and on the edge of their seats as they watched this beautiful story unfold on the Northwood High School stage.

Julie Newman
St. Stephen's & St. Agnes School
Submitted for publication to Maryland Theater Guide

In Northwood High School's production of The Importance of Being Earnest, A Trivial Comedy For Serious People, the cast's wonderful onstage chemistry, as well as their humor and sharp wit bring out the truths behind upper class society in 1800's Britain.

Written by Oscar Wilde and first performed in 1895, The Importance of Being Earnest follows the story of John Worthing, a young man in love with the sharp and clever Gwendolyn Fairfax. The only problem is that Gwendolyn is under the impression that John is actually his wild and rowdy brother Ernest, a persona which John has invented as an excuse for his constant travels to the city, and to win over the young lady. Confusion and hilarity ensue as John's cousin Algernon Moncrief uses the identity of this imaginary brother to win the heart of the young Cecily Cardew, John's ward.

Northwood High School's production featured Isaac Umanzor as John Worthing, who played his character's nervous energy well, and payed attention to how the other characters in the play affected the actions of his own. His love interest, Gwendolen Fairfax, was played by Elaina Giaudrone who developed the character strongly and was always acting in the moment. The two had great chemistry onstage, allowing the relationship to be sincere, but also comical. Algernon Moncrief, played by Miguel Cuesta, had good comic timing, and established a clear relationship with Cecily Cardew, played by Sophia Willis. Willis played Cecily's character with terrific humor, and her scenes and relationship with Gwendolen (Giaudrone) were entertaining and energetic. Other notable features included Consuela Watts as Lady Bracknell, who brought out her uptight character's humor and earned many laughs from the audience, and Dyuti Basu as Miss Prism, who carried the role with a fantastic energy and stage presence, as well as an accurate representation of her character's age.

The stage crew (Nhi Tan, Grayson Pipher, Nick Quintana), led by stage manager Jack Stoddard, managed to transform the stage with each act, successfully bringing the audience from Algernon's manor to a garden to a living room. These set changes effectively immersed the audience in the time period.

Overall, the cast used their terrific onstage chemistry and and humor to immerse the audience in a story of love, deception, and family. The cast of Northwood High School's witty production makes it entertaining and easy to understand "the vital Importance of Being Earnest."