Stetson Theatre Arts presents Wilde Comedy, ‘The Importance of Being Earnest’

Cory Lancaster April 3, 2019
The girl's mother hangs over them as the couple is seated and holding hands.

Stetson University will end its 113th season with Oscar Wilde’s final comic masterpiece, “The Importance of Being Earnest,” directed by guest artist Walter Kmiec. The play, which features mistaken identity, hilarious snobbery and forbidden love, will run from April 11-14 at Stetson University’s Second Stage Theatre, located at the Museum of Art – DeLand.

Oscar Wilde’s farcical comedy of manners revolves around Ernest Worthing, a young, eligible bachelor and man about town. Ernest is in love with the charming Gwendolen Fairfax and wants her to be his wife. Gwendolen has waited all her life to marry a man named “Ernest” and joyfully accepts his proposal, so they can live happily ever after!

The young couple cuddle behind the girl's mother, seated and wearing Victorian garb
Lady Bracknell has big plans for her daughter Gwendolen, but those plans do not include Gwendolen’s new fiancée Jack in Oscar Wilde’s classic comedy of manners, “The Importance of Being Earnest,” presented at Stetson University’s Second Stage Theatre. Pictured (left to right): Joseph Dallas, Lillian Desenberg and Cori LaPinsky. Photos by Ken McCoy.

There’s just one problem: “Ernest” isn’t being very earnest at all! His real name is Jack and he lives in the country. Plus, he is the guardian of his beautiful 18-year-old ward Cecily Cardew. Whenever country life becomes boring, Jack sneaks into town during the weekends and pretends to be the wild and crazy guy Ernest in order to let off some steam. His alibi? He tells Cecily that Ernest is his rebellious younger brother who he must visit in order to save him from getting into trouble all the while pretending to be the very same brother in town.

The girl's mother hangs over them as the couple is seated and holding hands.
Jack wants to marry Gwendolen, but Lady Bracknell has … feelings about it, in “The Importance of Being Earnest.” Pictured (clockwise from top): Cori LaPinsky, Joseph Dallas and Lillian Desenberg.

When Jack’s best friend, Algernon Moncrieff, discovers Jack’s secret life, he decides to raise the stakes by visiting the countryside and pretending to be Ernest in order to meet the lovely Cecily, who secretly fantasizes about Jack’s younger, bad-boy brother Ernest. When Jack returns to the country to legally change his name, he encounters the shock of a lifetime.

Directing “The Importance of Being Earnest” has been a gratifying experience, the guest director said.

“It’s been a blast collaborating with Stetson University’s wonderful theatre program on this project,” said Walter Kmiec, the guest director who hails from Orlando. “This play is a masterpiece and everyone has really risen to the challenge of infusing life into the fantastical world that Oscar Wilde created. No doubt if Oscar Wilde were alive today, he’d be blowing people up on Twitter to come see it!”

Production alert: The play contains mature subject matter and language and may not be suitable for all ages.

The young couple stand in front of a historical home
Jack and Gwendolen are two British kids doing the best they can – that is unless Gwendolen’s mother has anything to say about it, in “The Importance of Being Earnest.” Pictured, left to right: Joseph Dallas and Lillian Desenberg.

Cast: Joseph Dallas (Jack Worthing), Steven Kalicharan (Algernon Moncrieff), Lillian Desenberg (Gwendolen Fairfax), Anieszka Wojcik (Cecily Cardew), Cori LaPinksy (Lady Bracknell), Caroline “Reed” Barkowitz (Miss Prism), Drew Winokur (Dr. Chasuble) and Drake Cunningham (as the butlers Lane and Merriman).


IF YOU GO:
Where: Second Stage Theatre at the Museum of Art – DeLand, 600 N. Woodland Blvd., DeLand (adjacent to the DeLand campus)
When: 8 p.m. Thursday, April 11, Friday, April 12, and Saturday, April 13; and 3 p.m. Sunday, April 14
Admission: $12 adults, $10 seniors and non-Stetson students, and Stetson faculty, staff and students receive free admission with a valid ID
Parking: Free
Box office, reservations and more information: 386-822-8700
Tickets will be available at the door and reserved tickets must be picked up 30 minutes prior to the start of the performance. The box office will be open one hour prior to curtain.