The Importance of Being Earnest

THE 2001-2002 NEIU STAGE CENTER THEATRE SEASON
February/March 2002
The Importance of Being Earnest
By Oscar Wilde

Directed by Rodney Higginbotham

Oscar Wilde’s comic masterpiece, The Importance of Being Earnest is considered by many the greatest 19th century comedy of the English speaking world. The tightly written script sparkles with witty comic dialogue from the voices of all the characters. Additionally, Wilde delighted in filling the text with verbal jabs at the manners of upper-crust Victorian London.


*Instructions on how to wear one's chin*	*Climax of the cucumber bit*	*Costumes from the Guthrie Theatre*

The plot hinges on Jack Worthing’s scheme to identify himself as Jack when visiting family in the country and claim to have a
brother named Earnest living in the city. When visiting the city, he identifies himself as Earnest in order to behave in ways not approved of in the country. When his chum, Algernon learns of this scheme he calls himself Earnest to woo Jack’s ward, Cecily, while at the same time Jack, calling himself Earnest, is wooing Gwendolen. The hidden identity plot device causes much confusion for the men and much fun for the audience. The struggle to woo and marry is complicated by the power and influence of one of the most popular characters in the play, Lady Bracknell, whose character is a parody of an imperious high-born English lady. Her many comic retorts are a favorite feature of the play.

Like many classic comedies, the boys and girls are happily united in the end, but only after a surprise plot twist involving a baby being left in a handbag at train a station.

Cast

The Cast of The Importance of Being Earnest
(Back, left-to-right)
Lane...................... Smedley Hooper
Merriman.................. Bryan Avis
John Worthing............. Jeff Wade
Lady Bracknell.. ........ D.P. Wirth
Algernon Moncrieff........ John Ross, Jr.
Rev. Canon Chasuble....... Jim Blair
Miss Prism................ Melanie Bujan
(Seated, left-to-right)
Cecily Cardew............ Lindsey Pearlman
Gwendolen Fairfax......... Angela Demarco

Production Crew

Director. ........................ Rodney Higginbotham
Stage Manager...................... Jason Cruz
Set Designer....................... Robert G. Smith
Costume Design..................... Tina Haglund
Light Design...................... Adam Doud
Sound Designer.................... Jeng Fong
Carpenter/Set Dresser............. Cathy Valadares
Prop Master........................Jeff Wade
Set & Prop Crew....................Janna Andersen, Rhonda Redmond, Matthew Wysocki
& Theatre Practicum Class
Stage Center Theatre Photographer..*Ann Censotti
Publicity Coordinator...............Christine Wysocki
Assistant Publicity Coordinator.....Heidi Sullivan
Boxoff1ce Manager.................. Michelle Lange
Assistant Box Office Manager....... Jana Anderson
*Members Of Alpha Gamma Phi Cast Of Alpha Ps1 Omega
Special Thanks To Arliss Murphy And Julie Higginbotham.

The Scenes Of The Play
Act I
Algernon Moncrieff's Flat In Half Moon Street, W.
Act II
The Garden At The Manor House, Woolton
Act III
Drawing-Room Of The Manor House, Woolton

Time: Late Nineteenth Century
Place: London
THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING EARNEST
Originally produced at the St. James Theatre, London, under the
management of Mr. George Alexander, February 14, 1895.

Rehearsal
Miss Prisim (Melanie Bujan) instructs a
bored Cecily Cardew (Lindsey Pearlman)
while Meriman the butler (Bryan Avis) waits
patiently to serve tea.

Back to the Scrapbook, or return to the

Home of the Stage Center Theatre