Review: THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING EARNEST, OVO Theatre
Photo credit: Elliott Franks
The enchanting OVO Roman Outdoor Theatre is currently home to Oscar Wilde’s The Importance of Being Earnest.
For a play written 130 years ago, it feels surprisingly fresh. That is, in part, due to Wilde’s sharp observational wit and partly because OVO is well known for adding a modern twist to their shows or shifting the period slightly. In this case, modern music has been added, sung in a jazz style to complement the era, and the play is set in the 1920s (rather than the late 1800s).
The lyrics from the added songs are used to expand the story, with ‘Where Is My Husband?’ and ‘Without Me’ proving particularly fitting. Some of the music choices are slightly less convincing and feel more inserted rather than woven into the play.
The women are front and centre in this play, which satirises society’s obsession with social expectations, class and reputation, with themes of deception, identity and respectability. The jokes are funny and the dialogue witty. The exaggerated characters, mixed with a number of unlikely situations, bring great humour.
The cast have great chemistry and comic timing, bringing the required levity and playfulness to their roles. Hannah Brownlie absolutely shines, perfectly striking Miss Cardew’s balance of innocence and confidence. Charlie Clee brings mischievousness and wit, effortlessly funny as the rebellious, sandwich-loving Algernon Moncrieff.
The scene-stealing Miss Prism and Reverend Chasuble, played by Charlotte Ware and Max Gallagher, have perfect comedic timing and bring great hilarity to their roles, as well as both playing in the band.
A fantastic production of The Importance of Being Earnest with a modern twist, enhanced by the breathtaking backdrop of this historic venue.
**** Four stars
Reviewed by: Cara Brazier