‘There is only one thing in the world worse than being talked about, and that is not being talked about.’ – Oscar Wilde
There was plenty of talk about the Adamson Theatre Company’s production of The Importance of Being Earnest at the St Kilda Road Campus in Term 1 – a clear sign of the play’s success. With its potent mix of farce and biting social satire, Wilde’s celebrated 1895 ‘comedy of manners’ is quite the challenge for young players, and director Hayley McNally was very impressed with how her cast rose to the occasion.
‘They arrived at rehearsals with enthusiasm, curiosity and a genuine willingness to wrestle with Wilde’s intricate language,’ she says. ‘It’s no small feat to deliver such precise wit with clarity and confidence.’
‘It was difficult to get the rounded accent,’ said Sam from Year 12, who played Jack in one of the two casts. ‘The main challenge was incorporating it with Wilde's wording and getting it to sound natural.’
Millie, also from Year 12, had a running start with this production. ‘I studied the play for Literature last year,’ she says, ‘so I found the show particularly special, since I was able to bring my favourite character – Gwendolen – to life.’
The comedic delights of quick-fire dialogue and precision timing aside, Earnest wouldn’t be the mirthful play it is without the copious eating of cucumber sandwiches and other foodstuffs.
‘My favourite part was near the opening where it was just me and Algernon on stage running around throwing food at each other,’ says Xander from Year 12, who played the other Jack. ‘I hate people who are not serious about meals. It is so shallow of them,’ Jack complains at one point – a Wildean line if there ever was one.
Dylan from Year 10, who played Algernon to Xander’s Jack, found ‘a small challenge’ in eating and performing at the same time. ‘Algernon eats through most of the show – it was a funny struggle finding a balance between that and being able to deliver lines,’ he says.
