With a witty script that is undeniably and wonderfully Oscar Wilde, the Lilydale Athenaeum Theatre Company takes on his highly regarded The Importance of Being Earnest for its fourth season.
It’s a play with a sub-title that states it’s ‘a Trivial Comedy for Serious People’ – nothing could be more apt for the farcical commentary of late-1800s high society.
Following the lives of two young men, Jack Worthing and Algernon Moncrieff, who both adopt the fictional name Ernest, it leads them to all sorts of trouble.
Lead actor Joshua Mitchell, who has the pleasure of bringing Algernon to life, said it’s been “an absolute blast” to discover his character and deliver some of the best lines in the script.
“Working alongside such a talented cast and crew is always a treat, but when we have the pleasure of playing with such a widely beloved work like The Importance of Being Earnest, it’s really something quite special,” he said.
“Wilde’s writing is so sharp and witty that once you get into the rhythm and pace of it, the lines almost do the work for you.”
Joshua described Algernon as the “1800s version of Joey Tribiani from Friends” because of his funny and charming personality, who “never takes anything too seriously… except when it comes to his food”.
“He’s just so much fun to play. Algernon’s cheeky, he’s playful, and he loves poking fun and pushing the occasional button!
“It feels like he’s almost aware that the game is afoot and he loves playing it every bit as much as the next person!”
Algernon and his focus on food, Joshua said, gives him some of the greatest one-liners to deliver, among a script of unforgettable lines.
Some of his personal favourites include:
“Well, I can’t eat muffins in an agitated manner. The butter would probably get on my cuffs. One should always eat muffins quite calmly. It is the only way to eat them.”
“You can’t possibly ask me to go…..without having some dinner first. It’s absurd! I never go without dinner, nobody ever does….except for vegetarians and people like that.”
But despite his fixation on good food, Joshua said it has been a joy so far to explore a character that is so unapologetically themselves.
“I have loved playing a character that lives unapologetically in pursuit of their own happiness,” he said.
“Algernon chases what he wants and takes genuine delight in the little things that make him happy, whether it’s food, fun, or romance! If he were alive today, I honestly think he’d be all over gratitude journals and self-care trends…. he’s basically a Victorian era wellness influencer.”
And while 1800s high society might seem far beyond today’s experiences, Joshua said “Wilde’s satire really is timeless”.
“It translates almost too easily into today’s society. In the 1800s it was about country estates and proper manners, now it’s Instagram stories and Spotify wrapped playlists – people curating the perfect image of success.
“When you consider that the wealth gap is as wider than it’s ever been, Wilde’s digs at privilege and excess feel that little bit sharper.
“He shows us how ridiculous people can be when they care more about appearances than anything else. But I think that’s why audiences still connect…. we laugh at the Victorians, but we acknowledge that we are laughing at ourselves too.”
Lilydale’s interpretation of the play has been directed by the one and only Katie-Jane Amey for its second appearance at the theatre in 21 years.
With a “generous, kind, funny and talented group” bringing this performance to the stage, Joshua said he hopes the joy they’ve experienced as cast and crew can flow to the audiences as well.
“I think people will enjoy the laughter most of all. Wilde’s humour is so quick and clever, and it’s a joy to share that with an audience. But beyond the famous lines, what really makes it special is how relatable it still feels,” he said.
The Importance of Being Earnest is on show from 11 – 27 September at the Lilydale Athenaeum Theatre. Visit the website to book tickets, lilydaleatc.com or call 9735 1777.
