“The Importance of Being Earnest”: a review
February 24, 2023
To be completely honest, if Trinitas puts it on, I am bound to love it.
This past weekend, I had the great honor and pleasure of seeing the final performance of “The Importance of Being Earnest” put on by our lovely Trinitas brothers and sisters.
First things first, this was one of the most unconventional viewing experiences I have ever had. If you didn’t make it to “The Importance of Being Earnest,” the stage was set up untraditionally. Audience members sat on the stage in a few rows of bleachers. This created a totally immersive and intimate experience with the story that was unfolding on stage.
Personally, when I first sat down, I thought, “Oh my gosh. I am way too close to this stage, and if I laugh at an inappropriate time or have to get up to pee, it’s gonna be really bad.”
Fortunately enough, I did not have to pee and was engaged in the play the entire time.
Furthermore, the play has so few characters and settings, that the more intimate viewing experience makes you feel like you are a fly on the wall into this small circle of people’s lives.
On Sunday afternoon, the show I attended, Matthew Ellersick ’23 played John (Jack/Earnest), Caleb Simmons ’25 played Algernon, Isabela Guitteriez ’23 played Gwendolyn, and Giselle Gomez played Cecily.
I also got to see the showstopping Bridgette Sanders ’23 play Lady Bracknell.
To put it in layman’s terms: they all absolutely ate.
Matthew and Caleb had me cracking up the entire time. The brotherly chemistry was through the roof. Performances of a lifetime. Long gone were my dear friends, replaced instead by the hilarious and determined John (Jack/Earnest) and Algernon.
Not to mention Isabela and Giselle’s amazing performances. These leading ladies had me bending over with laughter during their passive aggressive tea party.
Bridgette perfectly encapsulated the terrifying yet hilarious Lady Bracknell. I was fully convinced at any moment she was going to march up at me and tell me to stop slouching or else I’d never find a husband.
The Royal Reporter’s own Layla Valenzuela ‘ 23 had me totally fulled as Miss Prism. For two hours, I wasn’t watching my Statistics classmate up on that stage, but rather the educated Miss Prism.
As far as the plot of the play itself, I mean, it’s freaking Oscar Wilde. What did you expect? For it to be bad? Not a chance.
I was laughing and totally engaged the whole time. Quite a feat considering the show is so dialogue heavy and I have the attention span of a squirrel on a sugar high.
But gosh. The ending.
My jaw was on the ground. I was shocked. I was thrilled.
After watching, I immediately added a copy of “The Importance of Being Earnest” to my Amazon cart. I doubt reading it will come near to watching it, though.
I have seen quite a few Trinitas productions during my life, and I must admit, “The Importance of Being Earnest” was my favorite. It was funny, fresh, and overall delightful. My only regret is that I didn’t get to see it again with the other casts as well.
I tip my hat to the amazing cast, crew, and production team of “The Importance of Being Earnest.”
If you didn’t see it, you essentially missed seeing the original cast production of “Hamilton.” I urge you to purchase tickets to Trinitas’ next production, “Cinderella,” to avoid ever missing such a monumental production ever again.