'The Importance of Being Earnest'

In "The Importance of Being Earnest," two shallow young women are so enamored with the name Earnest that their suitors arrange to be re-baptized. Yet in the latest revival of the play presented by the Roundabout Theatre Company, Earnest becomes secondary; instead, Lady Bracknell becomes the memorable character. As portrayed by 75-year-old actor Brian Bedford, who both directs and acts, she is a “mah-velously” funny Lady.

Oscar Wilde’s play is considered a classic despite the fact that there are no universal themes or redeeming social values. Done well, the play provides a jolly good time and wonderfully insightful aphorisms by the playwright. The screwy story concerns a young man, Jack Worthing (David Furr) who’s fallen in love with Lady Bracknell’s daughter, Gwendolyn (Sara Topham). Despite Worthing’s wealth and station, her mother won’t consider him because of his uncertain parentage. As a baby, he was found in a handbag in the cloakroom at Victoria Station.

Worthing has created an alter-ego for himself. He becomes Earnest in the city while he is Jack in the country. His young impressionable ward, Cecily, finds the tales of Jack’s reprobate ‘younger brother’ Earnest romantic. Worthing confesses his deception to his friend Algernon (the genial Santino Fontana) who later pretends to be Earnest to meet Cecily.

The four young people are pleasant and well-cast. Sara Topham is properly shallow yet practical, while Cecily (Charlotte Parry) is innocent and romantic. As the two suitors, Furr is a bit too serious while Santino seems to be having a wonderful time. One of the cutest scenes (besides every scene in which Bedford appears) is the one in which the two young women think they are fighting over the same man, Earnest, only to later learn that there really is no Earnest.