“The Importance of Being Earnest,” a comedy written in 1895, would seem to have little chance of remaining relevant or funny after so many years, but Oscar Wilde’s brilliant play does just that. Although Wilde’s “scandalous” private life caused the play to shut down after only 83 performances, the play has endured since then in at least three films, an opera, and has been revived on stage too many times to count.
The strength of this production is the keen comedic timing and the comfort of the actors with their characters.
Classic Theatre of Maryland’s latest offering, directed by Sally Boyett, continues the play’s long legacy of silliness. At its heart is a very clever intertwined story that lampoons upper crust morals and stuffiness and relation between the sexes. As his contemporary critics pointed out, the play is light on meaning and heavy with double entendres and word play, all of which allow the audience to relax and enjoy the production.
The play centers around two bachelors, Algernon Moncrieff (Pierce Bunch) and Jack Worthing (Joe Staton), who discover they each lead double lives. Algernon has made up an ailing friend named Bunbury that he uses as an excuse to get out of any burdensome social engagement, and Jack uses his troublesome (and imaginary) profligate brother, Ernest, as his excuse to leave his country estate and spend time as his brother in London.
As the play begins Jack Worthing is visiting London to propose to Algernon’s cousin Gwedolyn (Stephanie Greenwood). He is accepted, but must first get the approval of Gwendolyn’s mother, the dour and sputtering Lady Bracknell (Nancy Krebs). During his grilling, we learn Jack’s closest relation is a leather satchel, in which he was abandoned as a baby at Victoria Station. Although Worthing is wealthy, Lady Bracknell finds the satchel in his past to be a deal breaker.
From her mere description, Algernon becomes enamored with Jack’s ward, Cecily (Tabitha Bradley) and shows up to woo her at Jack’s country estate as Ernest, Jack’s nonexistent brother. Unfortunately, Jack has just coincidentally told everyone his brother Ernest is dead, but, oh well. Jack will not approve the union between Cecily and his friend unless he is allowed to marry Gwendolyn, and many, many misunderstandings later, the principles do indeed come to learn the importance of being earnest.
The strength of this production is the keen comedic timing and the comfort of the actors with their characters. Pierce Bunch and Joe Staton fit their parts, and each other, beautifully. They seem to have known each other forever, and thus are appropriately wary of each other’s foibles. Tabitha Bradley and Stephanie Greenwood play the young ladies with ridiculous appropriateness and decorum, but who obviously long to be just a little bad. Nancy Krebs rivals Maggie Smith with her diction and certainty about everything.
Kristen Rankin, who plays Cecily’s governess, Miss Prism, takes education way too seriously, but secretly holds the key to everyone’s happiness. John Pruessner inhabits Rev. Chasuble perfectly.
The play takes place in three parts that are beautifully separated by the garden scene that is impressively accomplished by striking light and shadows (designed by Adam Mendelson) on the basic set pieces.
Oscar Wilde meant to lampoon the strict mores that had such a heavy impact on his own life. The beauty and lasting power of “The Importance of Being Earnest” is the familiarity we all have with his characters and the look he gives us into ourselves. This play is silly, yes, but an excellent night’s entertainment.
Running Time: Approximately two hours with two 15-minute intermissions.
“The Importance of Being Earnest” runs through October 19, 2025 at Classic Theatre of Maryland, 1804 West Street, Annapolis, MD 21401. For more information and to purchase tickets, please call 410-415-3513, or go online.
