…Earnest? – Darlington Hippodrome

Co-Writers: Simon Paris, Josh King and Say It Again, Sorry?

Director: Simon Paris

The fact that this production had been a smash hit at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival should have said it all really. The skilful brand of physical and interactive comedy by Say it Again, Sorry? is one that most touring companies would shy away from these days, but is so obviously something that would be at home up at the Fringe, where audiences are typically more eager to get involved. Years ago, pantos were full of scenes in which children and/or adults were brought up on stage to interact with the characters at key moments, but it is now a rarity due to health and safety. Not so in this production, in fact by the end of the play there are as many audience members on stage as there are cast members.

The premise initially is a straight production of The Importance of Being Earnest, but we meet Director Simon Slough (Josh Haberfield) just minutes in as he deals with the disappearance of his leading man George, who is supposed to enter as Earnest in the first scene. What follows is an ingenious set up – we are watching the actors, playing the characters in the Oscar Wilde play, while trying to save the show in increasingly more frantic ways as one by one the cast members become indisposed. One (or sometimes two) at a time, audience members are picked out and brought up to the stage – the most notable role that someone has to take being Earnest himself. Or herself, as it turned out in this performance as the brilliant Marta was plucked out of the audience and literally given centre stage for virtually the whole of the rest of the show. She didn’t return to her seat once, and became the star of the show. Hand-picked by Slough, actor Josh Haberfield couldn’t have found a better person – she was quick, quirky and very much up to the task.

This hilarious and clever cast deftly interweave lines with ad libs and improv – the foppish and ridiculous character of Terry/Algernon gave Guido Garcia Lueches the perfect opportunities to move madly around the stage with plenty of physical comedy and some excellent lines – while Ben Mann playing Stage Manager Josh uses his skills and experience in silent physical theatre and clowning to such a degree that by the end, the audience are practically on their feet when he finally does speak!

Rhys Tees is a master of accents and costumes as Graham/Lane as well as dashing about the stage quietly guiding the audience members around and allowing them to shine in their various roles. Trynity Silk as Jennifer/Gwendolen plays her role brilliantly, coming unravelled throughout the play ending up in a dramatic drunken mess for a good deal of the show. Judith Amsenga flits between Lady Bracknell and her actor alter ego Eleanor, meaning that she can deliver all the famous Wilde lines (“A Handbaaag?”) and end up voiceless by the end of the show due to the copious amount of cigarettes and alcohol her character consumes throughout the show. Ashley Cavender pops in at the end as George/Earnest and in less than 5 minutes manages to insert himself as the villain of the piece and get the whole audience chanting against him. No mean feat.

If there was anything not to like, and this is really nit-picking, the first half was a little over-long at almost an hour and 20 minutes. By comparison the second half was very short, so it did feel a smidge unbalanced.

Anyone who likes Noises Off, The Crooners, The Play That Goes Wrong and other clever shows built on tomfoolery and slapstick really must go and see this show. Crying with laughter is optional, but highly likely.

Runs until 11th March 2025, before continuing on tour