Camden New Journal - Theatre: The Importance of being Ernest

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The Review - THEATRE by NATALIE LI
Published: 26 April 2007

A Wilde night out as Ernest returns

THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING ERNEST
Jermyn Theatre

OSCAR Wilde’s satirical comedy of manners returns to the stage in a highly exuberant interpretation of this classic play which has enjoyed its fair share of stagings. In light of this, it can prove tricky to enhance such a wonderfully crafted play yet this production by the fringe company, Antic Disposition, is a solid staging of the societal shenanigans during the late Victorian era.
Algernon Mischief, played by Stephen Carlile, is every inch the frivolous care-free character depicted by Oscar Wilde and his interaction with the countrified Jack Worthing (Ian Hallard) is absorbing to view. Both Algernon and Jack have invented characters, who go by the names of Ernest and Bunbury, to aid them in avoiding awkward social situations. The path of love never did run smooth and we watch on in amusement as they attempt to make proposals of marriage which lead to a maze of confusion. Amidst the misunderstandings is the domineering Lady Bracknell (James Pellow), whose disapproval of Jack as a potential fiancé for her daughter Gwendolen acts as the spanner in the works for the events which ensue.
The humorous casting of James Pellow as Lady Bracknell is superbly weaved into a somewhat conventional interpretation of Oscar Wilde’s impeccable stage comedy. With strong performances all round and wonderful comic timing by the two leading female characters, Georgina Carey and Jayne Dickinson, one can not fault the compact rendition of a classic play.
020 7287 2875
Until May 12

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