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Review: The Importance of Being Earnest

By InCinemas / 18 Apr 2013 (Thursday)

"I have always been of opinion that a man who desires to get married should know either everything or nothing." - Oscar Wilde

Wild Rice’s ‘The Importance of Being Earnest’ is one that packs much humour, wits and warmth in this enjoyable play with splendid performances by the cast, completed with admirable set designs and gorgeous outfits.

The Importance of Being Earnest is arguably one of Oscar Wilde’s best-known works, for his smart scripting for each character is neatly defined and developed. For those who missed the 2009 production would be glad to know that the return production is somewhat the same, with almost all the cast returning to their roles, with the exception of Lim Kay Siu who plays the role as Rev. Canon Chasuble, previously played by Zahim Albakri.

The classic play was a smash hit back in 2009 and it bagged three awards at the Straits Times Life Theatre Awards for Production of the Year, Best Costume Design (Frederick Lee) and Best Supporting Actor (Chua Enlai). I personally couldn’t agree more.

Director Glen Goei decided to cast all male actors in every part as he wishes to strip away the differentiation between male and female genders. Although one might not imagine how the story unfolds, or how one might react to a same-sex cast interacting with each other during intimate scenes, it actually brings out the fear, anticipation and most importantly, the purity of love in one’s idealistic gender-equality mindset.

To be honest, I held my breath when I thought the couples were going to lock lips, but after watching the entire play, what I saw were the innocence and simplicity of love between two people, be it a man-woman couple or a man-man couple. If anything, it was beautiful. In addition, I was glad he made this bold decision (think Section 377A) as it would have been totally different if ladies were cast in this production. He was right to point out that these characters were somehow stereotyping women and having men to play ‘ladies as men’ (No cross-dressing involved) sheds a different light of how you would interpret the characters, the story and the play as a whole.

To add to the Victorian feel, be entertained by the live music performances by The Ensemble Dimension Players. Before the show started, the actors dressed in white shirts and jeans stood around the musicians, admiring the T’ang Quartet and some even served the audiences with cucumber sandwiches. It really did add to the overall experience as I munched on my sandwiches and enjoyed listening to the familiar classical pieces. What was missing is a glass of French Beaujolais, which I know is rather impossible to ask for.

Overall, I enjoyed watching the play, from the live classical performances to laughing at Wilde’s jokes and of course, the brilliant cast who delivered those lines. It’s one anyone and everyone can enjoy, admire and just "sit back, relax and enjoy the show".

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Review: The Importance of Being Earnest