Fringe review: …EARNEST?, Underbelly George Square

In the spirit of Mischief and famous book The Art of Coarse Acting, …Earnest? returns to the Fringe after a regional tour.

Without an interval and with elements sped up, it is essentially the same show that toured with same cast. As Simon (Josh Haberfield) the director explains at the end, you are guaranteed a different show every night so it stands a second viewing. Indeed, it positively is enhanced when you are in on the joke from the start .

Of course, it helps if you know the original Oscar Wilde play, The Importance of Being Oscar, and its most famous lines about cucumber sandwiches, handbags and losing one's parents. The three acts in different locations are condensed into a 70-minute running time .

As members of the cast drop out to be replaced quickly by audience members, the comedy is enhanced if those selected do not know the play and are required to fumble their way to the iconic lines with encouragement but little assistance from the remaining cast.

For us, the stand out moment is when Josh (Ben Mann), the mute stage hand, guides Earnest to deliver his lines from idiot boards held up by the audience and illuminated by his torch. It reminded us of Bruce Forsyth's wonderful closing playlets from The Generation Game and the creativity required to prompt rookie actors with their lines. It is simply delightful comic business with two moments of embarrassment for the speaker but a rewarding round of applause at the end.

The producers Say It Again Sorry? may have hit upon a new formula. Taking classic plays and giving them their treatment in the way that Showstoppers and Mischief have created long running formats. We hope so as this is great fun even on a second viewing.

**** Four stars

Reviewed by: Nick Wayne

…Earnest? plays at Edinburgh Festival Fringe until 25 August, with further info here.