The Musical Importance of Being Earnest (October 2016)

Good evening and a big welcome to our production of The Musical Importance of Being Earnest.

This has been a difficult four weeks due to the fact that our musical scores were late arriving by two weeks thus putting pressure on the cast and our Musical Director, who had not had sight of the music. Normally, he and the cast would have had a couple of weeks singing and learning the music before we all get together with our scripts, however due to the cast giving so much time and putting all their energy into this last four weeks, plus having a wonderful Musical Director, I feel we have got a show to be proud of. I know I am certainly proud of them all.

I would also like to welcome four new cast members to The Other Theatre Company: Annie Lamb, Ceri Clarke, David Richardson and Andrew Riley.

-- Sophia Kennedy, Director.

Synopsis

Jack and Algernon are wealthy gentlemen. Jack (known to Algernon as Earnest) lives a respectable life in the country providing an example to his young ward Cecily. Algernon lives in luxury in London and has invented an imaginary friend (Bunbury) whom he visits in the country whenever an unappealing social engagement presents itself. Jack has also invented a character - a wayward younger brother called Ernest whom he uses as a pretext for going up to London and enjoying himself.

Jack wants to marry Algernon's cousin Gwendolen, but must first convince her mother, Lady Bracknell, of the respectabillity of his parents. For Jack, having been abandoned in a handbag at Victoria Station, this is quite a difficult task.

Algernon visits Jack's house in the country and introduces himself to Cecily as Earnest, knowing that Cecily is already fascinated by tales of Earnest's wickedness. He further wins her over and they become engaged. Shortly after, Jack arrives home announcing Earnest's death. This sets off a series of farcical events. Cecily and Gwendolen have a genteel stand-off over which of them has a prior claim on 'Earnest'. Jack and Algernon vie to be christened Earnest. Eventually, Jack discovers that his parents were Lady Bracknell's sister and brother-in-law and that he is, in fact, Algernon's older brother called Earnest. The two sets of lovers are thus free to marry.

Duiring these events, the characters of Canon Chausuble and Cecily's governess, Miss Prism, have also fallen in love, and in the best tradition of the wel-made play, the story ends with all the loose ends tied up and everyone set to live happily ever after.

The Cast

Production Team

Our sincere thanks to Normal Wythenshawe and Terry Rathbone for transporting the set and seating and to Mike Finnigan and Jed Coates for the construction of the seating and transport of the furnature and props.