A wild, semi-impromptu re-imagining of this Wildean classic, where you could star as the leading role.
Say It Again, Sorry? have tipped The Importance of Being Earnest on its head with their semi-improvised interpretation. When the lead actor goes AWOL every single night, they soon choose an audience member to step into his shoes. And being earnest is certainly a quality required for the role…
Enter Dave (all names changed, for obvious reasons), who works at a major UK airport. He’s summoned to the stage by the person playing the role of the Director, Simon Slough.
Dave’s companion can be heard in the interval saying that this is his literal worst nightmare. And yet, here he is, on stage at Brighton’s Theatre Royal, taking on the eponymous role. There’s moments that could make him ditch the façade, including a tipsy Gwendolyn, played by Trynity Silk, who keeps trying to fix him up with audience members, or make him a profile on Hinge. But he’s calm, willing and present at all times. Really, the perfect participant.
It’s important to say that the choice of who to take on in these roles is vital to the success of the production. An unenthusiastic participant could sink the ship. But there’s no such worries tonight. The initial two selections, for the roles of Ernest and Cecily, are both engaged, albeit in slightly different ways. Our balding Gwendolyn could not be more exuberantly enthusiastic, in contrast to Dave’s reliably cool head.
Guido Garcia Lueches as Algernon has the poshness of this notorious prat down-pat, but could be a little more farcical for this reviewer’s taste. Part of the fun of Algernon as a character is that he is such a bumbling fool. This doesn’t quite translate in Garcia Lueches’ interpretation.
Rhys Tees plays an assortment of supporting roles, all of which he does with an eye for detail which is greatly appreciated by those watching. His interpretation of the Governess in particular is splendid, rich and fully embodied.
Judith Amsenga is glorious as Lady Bracknell. She delivers Julie Andrews with a whip energy, and powerful stage presence. We all know who wears the trousers in this production. In a pseudo-offstage interlude, we see her sit down with our leading man for a discussion on composing yourself before a performance. Within moments, the audience are chanting Dave’s new personal mantra, ‘Alfie, Anna, Pizza.’ This is composed of the names of his children and his favourite food. The audience have his back – he is literally one of us.
To achieve the semi-impromptu stylings of this show, and accommodate its last-minute, untrained performers, the story has undergone a fairly bloody butchering, as you would expect. But the way it’s stitched back together serves the purpose, and everyone is having such fun that nobody minds too much.
The audience are especially engaged in this performance. They interject with sassy delight and cutting comments whenever they damn well fancy, which is a pleasing surprise in a place with the grandeur of the Theatre Royal. There’s almost pantomime energy, with booing and cheering at key moments. It’s far from ‘he’s behind you’, but there’s a level of joy that sits in a similar space.
Say It Again, Sorry? are to be commended for the amount they achieve in this production. Juggling their own dual roles with co-ordinating a growing team of untrained audience members is not to be underestimated.
All-in-all, Earnest? is a ludicrous, laugh-a-minute interpretation of a classic tale, a hit for all the generations. Just be warned: next time, the lead actor could be you.
Reviewed on 28th May
