Commissioning Collingswood's Wilde Side

Collingswood Shakespeare Company will put a twist on tradition to let Collingswood debut its Wilde side. As in famed writer Oscar Wilde, of course.

The Importance of Being Earnest, Wilde's classic play, is being adapted by Collingswood Shakespeare Company (CSC) to feature new, more familiar settings—Southern New Jersey and Philadelphia. 

CSC members said the group chose to put a local twist on the play, a piece originally set in London and the English countryside.

Production Director Gerald van Wilgen said CSC said the adaption incorporates another piece of dramatic framework, in which both Wilde and poet Walt Whitman will appear as themselves.

"You know, in theater, we are very superstitious," said van Wilgen. "This was one of those moments where the theater spirits seemed to work their magic.

"One of our producers came up with the idea of using Oscar Wilde to introduce the play," he said. "Then, we realized that he and Walt Whitman had actually met not that far from us, while Whitman was living in Camden."

So the troupe began scouting actors to play the roles of two legendary writers.

"We found Dennis Cobourn and David Scott Taylor to play the parts of Wilde and Whitman, and (the actors) have an excellent rapport together," said van Wilgen. 

To introduce two characters of such stature smoothly into the production, van Wilgen said CSC created a backstory.

"We show a reenactment of a fictitious performance of the play (set in) the 1880s, offered to Wilde by Whitman, as a gift," said van Wilgen. "Wilde was a fan because he was (also) a poet, and admired Whitman's work. It is an interesting situation—an old man from the new world, meeting a young man from the old world."

CSC's adaption of The Importance of Being Earnest opens this Friday, May 13, and will be staged in six showings over a two-week period, ending May 22. All productions will be held at the American Legion Hall Theatre, located at 220 Atlantic Ave. in Collingswood.

"(In our adaption of the play), we are trying to recreate 19th-century Collingswood—which is much harder than you think," said van Wilgen. "But apart from (the audience) being entertained a great play performed by skilled and inspired actors, I do hope we're able to give people a glimpse of what it must have been like (in Collingswood) back in those days."

Week One Performances—

Show begins at 8 p.m. on Friday, May 13

Show begins at 8 p.m. on Saturday, May 14

Show begins at 3 p.m. on Sunday, May 15

Week Two Performances—

Show begins at 8 p.m. on Friday, May 20

Show begins at 8 p.m. on Saturday, May 21

Show begins at 3 p.m. on Sunday, May 22

Ticket Pricing Information—

Regularly—$15 per person

Students—$10 per person

Seniors—$10 per person

Active military—free

Teachers—free (only if accompanied by 10 paying students)

Purchasing Tickets—

Purchase online via PayPal at collingswoodshakespeare.org 

Purchase via phone, by calling 856-833-0661