Abigail Wood '08, of Gouverneur, as Gwendolen, and Lucius Robinson '08, of New York, as Jack, in The Importance of Being Earnest

A List
10/31/05

SLU TO STAGE 'IMPORTANCE OF BEING EARNEST'

CANTON - The Importance of Being Earnest will be presented at St. Lawrence University Wednesday through Saturday, November 2 through 5, at 8 p.m. each evening in Gulick Theatre. Free tickets are required for admission, and may be picked up at the Gulick Theatre Box Office in the lobby from Monday through Friday, October 31 through November 4, from 1 to 5:30 p.m. The Box Office phone number is 315-229-5748.

The production is directed by Visiting Assistant Professor of Speech and Theatre Ann Marie Gardinier Halstead.

The Importance of Being Earnest, by Oscar Wilde, is a classic comedy of manners that satirizes the English aristocracy of the 1890s. It was first performed on February 14, 1895 at the St. James' Theatre in London. An educated young Londoner named Algernon (Algy) pretends to have an ill friend named Bunbury. Whenever Algy wants to avoid a social obligation or simply get out of the city for the weekend, he claims to need to visit his sick friend in the country. Algy's best friend, whom he knows as Ernest, lives in the country where he is known by his real name, Jack. Jack pretends to have an irresponsible younger brother named Ernest whom he must rescue from scrapes and social indiscretions in order to leave his country home and visit London when he chooses. When Jack frequently visits the city, he assumes the name of Ernest. Things become complicated when Algy visits Jack in the country, claiming to be Jack's brother Ernest. Algy uses the name Ernest to woo Jack's ward Cecily, while Jack uses the name Ernest to woo Algy's cousin Gwendolen. The complication is that Cecily and Gwendolen are convinced that they could never love anyone who was not named Ernest. When they realize that they are both in love with the same mythical suitor, all pandemonium breaks loose and a hilarious comedy of mistaken identities ensues.

For more information, contact the speech and theatre department, at 315-229-5192.

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