Theater Review: 'The Importance of Being Earnest' at Westport Country Playhouse

Review by Connecticut Critics Circle member and Patch Contributor Nancy Sasso Janis

In its 95th year, Westport Country Playhouse is presenting, for the first time on their stage, the Oscar Wilde comedy “The Importance of Being Earnest.” The drawing-room play described as “a trivial comedy for serious people” is directed by Melissa Rain Anderson in her Playhouse debut.

The timeless comedy, often called Wilde’s theatrical masterpiece, is filled with charm, wit and clever humor, plenty of delightful deception and some sharp social satire. The action is fast-paced in what is at its heart a ridiculous romp through Victorian society.

Westport Country Playhouse sets up the tale: “Two wildly eligible bachelors bend the truth in their pursuit of love, only to land in a web of hilarious complications (and far too many cucumber sandwiches). Full of razor-sharp wit and larger-than-life characters, this sparkling satire gleefully skewers love, marriage, and high society.”

The director ensures that all of the best comedic lines land securely and highlights Wilde’s gift for language, maintaining the wonderful rhythm of the lines throughout the two acts. On previous viewings, I appreciated the comedy but found the characters to be clawingly over the top. Seeing it through the lens of a satire helped explain the appeal of the work that was first performed in 1895. It is rather clever how Wilde wraps up the tale of the two bachelors (and their first names) before the curtain falls.

Anthony Michael Martinez, an Equity member, plays the handsome Algernon “Algie” Montcrieff. The NYC actor and teaching artist appeared in “Native Gardens” in Westport. Equity member Michael Raver, who appeared in “The Seagull” Off Broadway, has wonderful stage presence in the role of John Worthing, J.P. He has worked regionally in CT at Ivoryton Playhouse, Music Theatre of CT, and Playhouse on Park.

Veteran Equity member Jan Neuberger portrays the fussy governess Miss Prism, a role in which she had a previous stint. The actress made her Broadway debut over 50 years ago and her ever-growing resume lists five original Broadway companies, including “Wicked.” Triney Sandoval ( “Frost/Nixon” on Broadway) is convincing as the Rev. Canon Chausuble, D.D. Mark Silence, who has worked as a fight director and choreographer at this venue, switches between playing Merriman, butler to Mr Worthing and Lane, Mr Moncrieff's manservant. Silence teaches acting and voice over at Norwalk Conservatory of the Arts.

I was excited to see the wonderful Christine Pedi in the role of the formidable Lady Bracknell. Pedi is a daily host of Sirius XM radio’s On Broadway, one half of the Dueling Divas with Seth Rudetsky on Saturdays. The long-time actress played Mama Morton in “Chicago” on Broadway and has worked Off Broadway in “Forbidden Broadway” and other spoofs.The director accommodates Pedi’s visual limitations easily; many audience members will miss them.

Equity member Kristen Hahn returns to the Playhouse to play the lovely if shallow Cecity Cardew, Worthing's ward. Hahn was part of the madcap “The 39 Steps” and is a graduate of Carnegie Mellon. Katy Tang, an Equity member, is the beautiful Gwendolyn Fairfax, the daughter of Lady Bracknell. The actress most recently played Phoebe in “A Gentleman’s Guide…” at Laguna Playhouse.

Set designer James J. Fenton goes with flat wooden pieces that have inked details, or in the case of the garden scenes, flowers painted in dusty tones. I loved the circular staircase in the Worthing mansion that is well-used by the actors. Annie J. Le has provided the period costumes, with wonderful suits for the men and some lovely gowns for the ladies, although I was not a fan of the alterations done to one piece. J. Jared Janas (with associate Lily Volle) designed the beautiful wig, hair and make-up. Alexander Fetcho was the lighting designer and John Gromada designed the sound (with Matt Otto) and composed the original music that accents the scenes.

The show runs two hours and 15 minutes including the one intermission and is recommended for ages 12 and up. The Playhouse is located at 25 Powers Court in Westport and free theater tours will be offered on Nov. 6 and 8. You can “get Wilde at the Playhouse” with performances that run through November 15. https://www.westportplayhouse.org/.../the-importance-of.../

Nancy Sasso Janis has been writing theater reviews since 2012 as a way to support local venues, and she posts well over 100 reviews each year. She became a member of the Connecticut Critics Circle in 2016. Her contributions of theatrical reviews, previews, and audition notices are posted in the Naugatuck Patch as well as the Patch sites closest to the venue. She was a feature writer and theater reviewer for the Waterbury Republican-American newspaper. Follow the reviewer on her Facebook pages Nancy Sasso Janis: Theatre Reviewer and Connecticut Theatre Previews and on Twitter @nancysjanis417 Check out the CCC Facebook page.