Review: The Importance Of Being Earnest, Curtain Players

   Neophyte Director Jeb Bigelow has assembled a brilliant and beautiful cast for Curtain Players current production of Oscar Wilde’s classic comedy, “The Importance Of Being Earnest”.

    The gender-bending casting of Sue Wismar in the dual roles of the butlers Lane and Merriman, is a stroke of genius.  Wismar has such brilliant comic physicality and line delivery. She is consistently funny.  

   Curtain newcomer Christopher Chene brings a pleasant savoir faire air to the role of Algernon Montcrieff.  Brian Henry is making his third consecutive Curtain Players production appearance in the role of Jack Worthing.  Henry’s steady, confident consistency provides a strong anchor for the show.

   Jill Taylor has such great expression, characterization, enunciation and timing in the role of Lady Bracknell. She delivers some of Wilde’s outrageously comical declarations about status and societal situations with wonderful deadpan sincerity. 

   Young Mackenzie Leland is pretty, energetic and delightful in the role of the day-dreaming, fantasy-filled Cecily Cardew.  Laura Crone has an effective and attractive, aloof air as Gwendolyn.

    Central Ohio Arts Legend Bronwyn Hopton makes her Curtain Players debut as the governess, Miss Prism.  Her expression and attitude enrich the role.  She and Phillip Wells (Rev Chasuable) have a great look and excellent chemistry together. 

     The line delivery and consistency of accent and dialect among the entire cast is especially noteworthy. There are generous amounts of outstanding ensemble work on display here.

    With set designer Joseph Wolfe Jr., Bigelow’s vision fits what is traditionally a large-scale, opulent set with two different locales – a living room and a garden patio-- onto a smallish Curtain Players stage, using bright-colored curtains, sash accents and modest, attractive furnishings. 

    The main curtain is basically a scrim with a clever lighting design from Derryck Menard that accents tableau poses of characters who eavesdrop and provide silent judgmental listening in the background while main conversations take place center stage.

  David Bahgat’s costumes are lavish and period appropriate with great attention to detail in things like gloves, hats and purses.  I am told that some of the costumes were borrowed from Otterbein University Theater department, which did “Earnest” a few years ago.

   This is a very satisfying, funny, thoroughly entertaining production of a wonderful and much-beloved classic as Curtain Players opens its 54^th season at its Harlem Road location.   It is well worth the time and the price of admission to take a road trip to see this wonderful show.