First performed on Valentine’s Day back in 1895, Oscar Wilde’s The Importance of Being Earnest has endured in popularity over the years. The comedy, along with its high farce and witty dialogue, provides an intriguing satire of Victorian ways.
The plot observes the main characters as they attempt to evade several arduous engagements by taking on fictitious persona. Wilde purposely mocks the rigid performances of class, gender, and sexuality that society (still) expects us to play. Finding its way now onto campus, The Importance of Being Earnest is the J-term production that the cast and crew are ready to show to the public. Directed by Amy Seham, Professor in Theatre & Dance and Gender, Women & Sexuality Studies, the Theatre and Dance department will be holding performances for Earnest in Anderson Theatre Feb. 19-22.
Upon discovering that Earnest was making its way on campus, Sophomore Classics and Physics Major, Will Riihiluoma, was more than psyched about the opportunity to be a dramaturge. Looking heavily at the background history and setting of the period piece, Riihiluoma spent nearly seven hours per day trying to learn everything he could for a week straight. Studying the specific etiquette and rules during Queen Victoria’s reign, Riihiluoma also learned many things about Oscar Wilde. Not realizing that Wilde was counterculture during the author’s own time, Riihiluoma was surprised to see the continuous relevance of the issues about which he writes. In addition to rehearsals and read-throughs, the cast would listen to his presentations on the Victorian period and Oscar Wilde. Focusing such lessons on topics like gender roles, social structures and manners, Riihiluoma thoroughly enjoyed the experience. Riihilluoma talked about the entire experience as a whole and his hopes for what the audience can take away from the experience.
“The Importance of Being Earnest is one of my favorite plays. It’s hilarious British theater and it can be very fluffily done, but we are trying our hardest to make its message clear but still not overhanded. This is my first time being a non-actor in theater production, providing a different perspective and I now have a greater respect for everyone involved that helps makes the show. In addition, I hope the audience will be able to see how great and witty the whole experience is,” Riihiluoma said.
For Sophomore English and Theatre Major, Andie Broman, Earnest is a performance that she has deeply enjoyed contributing too. Playing Miss Prism, the serious educator that falls in love with a preacher, Andie is one of the few to natively be their gender. What this means in the Victorian period (in 1895) is having to wear a corset for six hours during rehearsals along with huge elegant handmade-dresses with big sleeves. In addition to getting used to the costumes, the cast had to work on their British accents. Through practice and video tutorials, Andie believes her accent has improved greatly. She also spoke about the experience of working under Amy Seham’s direction.
“Amy’s direction is very focused on exploring the setting and the location. She very much likes seeing what actors want to do and to try new things. She is very explorative in making us realize that with each movement, a different thing can be communicated. Amy is able to discover what she wants from you to a great extent and is able to bring that into the play itself,” Broman said.
For Annie Galloway, this month is bittersweet and a relief at the same time. As a senior, Earnest and the play she is going to direct, ctrl, will be her last two productions here at Gustavus. Finding herself coming full circle where she had to cut her hair for her first production as a first-year and once again for Earnest, Galloway will be playing Jack Worthing. Among the things she has learned throughout her four years at Gustavus, Annie learned the role of playing the opposite gender.
“When playing someone of the opposite gender you have to figure out your physicality and place your voice correctly. Especially with a British accent. You have to find an entirely new way of communicating. As I express myself differently with my face, I didn’t feel I had that boyish quality until I got my makeup on. One usually starts playing into stereotypes and then builds from there. You begin to ask yourself, how do men eat? How do men walk? It’s an experience itself to make the character more than one-dimensional and your own, especially when you aren’t in your own shoes,” Galloway said.
As a commentary on gender and sexuality, Wilde’s Earnest still stands as great as it did a hundred years ago. While every line is a packed joke, students will be able to take a lot away from witnessing the production with their own eyes.
Tickets can be ordered at the CAO desk and on gustavustickets.com. Students, faculty, and staff are able to receive one free ticket and for others, adult tickets will be $9.
-Dan Vruno