Lake State Theatre Department Presents:
The Importance of Being Earnest a play by Oscar Wilde
Lake State Theatre Professor, Thomas Meacham, was in the process of directing an exciting production of The Importance of Being Earnest for the mainstage of the Arts Center that was to be performed at the end of the Spring semester of 2020. Unfortunately, the live performance of the play was canceled because of the COVID-19 pandemic. The cast nevertheless wanted to be able to showcase their hard work, so Meacham decided to use Zoom (an online meeting platform) to record and edit some of the play’s highlights.
These highlights have been assembled as episodes, wonderfully capturing the wit and quirky characterizations of Oscar Wilde’s play.
Don’t forget to check out the Theatre Department’s website after to see what they are up to! You can find it here.
Meet the Cast of The Importance of Being Earnest
Cast
- Algernon Moncrieff – Keegan Hoose
- Jack/Ernest Worthing – Alex Czarnecki
- Gwendolen Fairfax – Nikayla Kirkwood
- Cecily Cardew – Ariana Atkinson
- Lady Bracknell – Katie Davis
- Miss Prism – Amy Lehigh
- Reverend Chasuble – Samuel Cox
- Lane/Merriman – Alex Verbrugge
Crew
- Thomas Meacham, Director
- Emily Tagliareni, Assistant Director
Episode 1
In this episode, we are introduced to Algy and Ernest. Algy discovers something odd about Ernest. He finds out that this friend is “Ernest in town and Jack in the country.” Why is he leading two lives? Watch the episode to find out!
Episode 2
In this episode, we are introduced to Algy’s rather severe aunt, Lady Bracknell. She is not quite convinced that Ernest/Jack is the right one for her daughter Gwendolen. Will he pass her test? Watch the episode and find out!
Episode 3
In this episode, we are introduced to Cecily, Ernest/Jack’s ward, who lives in the country under the tutelage of Miss Prism. We are also introduced to Reverend Chasuble who, we learn, is very much taken with Miss Prism. Meanwhile, Algy decides to go the country to woo Cecily, pretending to be Jack’s “wicked brother Ernest.” Will she be able to reform him? Watch the episode to find out!
Episode 4
In this episode, Jack decides that it is time to “kill” his pretend brother Earnest so that he doesn’t become a problem later on — particularly with his engagement to Gwendolen. Will he be able to pull this off? Watch the episode to find out!
Episode 5
In this episode, Algy has traveled to the country in order to woo Jack’s ward, Cecily. As part of his courtship, he pretends to be Jack’s “wicked brother” Ernest. Yet, it appears Cecily may already be a few steps ahead of him. Watch the episode to find out if he will succeed!
Episode 6
In this episode, Algy and Jack both want to be christened with the name of Ernest. Cecily and Gwendolen have explicitly told Algy and Jack that they could only love a man if his name were Ernest. Who, indeed, will be named Ernest? Watch the episode to find out!
