The Importance of Being Earnest
February 20, 2014 by admin
Filed under Archive Events
The Curtain Call Theatre invites you to yet another entertaining theatrical production filled with puns and laughter that will ‘earnestly’ make you glad you attended “The Importance of Being Earnest” by Oscar Wilde. It is Wildely funny and irreverent!!! This is perhaps Wilde’s most famous play and is gently subtitled ‘A Trivial Comedy for Serious People’. In this farcical comedy the protagonists maintain fictitious personae in order to escape burdensome social obligations. “Earnest” is set in late Victorian London and utilizes witty dialogue and an ingenious case of manufactured mistaken identity to create humorous social satire.
Directed by Michael Tabib, the managing director of Curtain Call Theatre at the The Russian River. The play features a seasoned cast of talented actors well equipped to provide an evening of fun, frolic, and joyous laughter for all who attend. “The Importance of Being Earnest” will open March 15th and run each weekend until April 12th. Friday and Saturday performances start at 8pm., Sunday matinees at 3pm. Regular admission is $20, Seniors $15. To make theater more affordable for everyone, the first three Fridays are “paywhatyoucan”.
Our Gala Event fundraiser performance will be Saturday, April 12th, closing night, with a delicious buffet of hors d’oeuvres, entrees, side dishes, desserts, Korbel Champagne & wines and nonalcoholic beverages; all for a tax deductible donation of $40.00. Doors open at 7PM, Curtain at 8PM.
For reservations and further information, please call (707) 5248739.
Wilde and Funny
February 11, 2014 by admin
Filed under Archive Events
by: Gretchen Belgrave
What’s in a name? WAIT, WAIT we’re not doing Shakespeare yet. Besides, in “The Importance of Being Earnest”, Curtain Call Theatre’’s current production, names do matter they’re quite important actually. Well… one particular name.
According to young Gwendolen, this name “has a music of its own. It produces vibrations”. Now if this seems a bit superficial, you’re right. Lady Bracknell regrets to say that they were “living in an age of surfaces”.
This applies to words in general. In this stylized but spirited comedy of manners, it’s not what you say, but how you say it. How words are worn is as important as how the chin is worn (“very high” at that time). Gwendolen tells Cecily, “In matters of grave importance, style, not sincerity, is the vital thing.” Cecily thinks that even if she can’t believe what her suitor tells her, it “does not affect the wonderful beauty of his words”.
Do these characters ever say what they mean? Can they believe each other, or themselves? Names and other words can be used to define us, to gain status, or just for fun. We can’t all be Earnest but some can try with hilarious results.
Although mocking one’s society is somewhat risky, it’s obvious that the clever and controversial Oscar Wilde is having a great deal of fun laughing at the entrenched nonsensical postures of his time. This play is rather Shakespearean, with its twisty identity confusions, overthetop characters, and silly resolutions. Mr. Wilde holds a mirror to the human soul, but makes it catch light and sparkles with irreverent wit as we laugh, not only at the past, but at ourselves.
Curtain Call Theatre has again assembled a fine assortment of talented actors and created a simple but elegant set, utilizing innovative technical improvements. Come and see for yourself and take a splendid romp through Edwardian England. Lady Bracknell is quite firm on this point (as she is on all points).
“The Importance of Being Earnest”, directed by Michael Tabib, will open on March 15. Friday and Saturday performances start at 8 p.m., Sunday matinees at 3 p.m. Regular admission is $20, Seniors & Students with ID $15. The first three Fridays are “paywhatyoucan”. Our Gala Event fundraiser will be Saturday, April 12, closing night, with a delicious buffet of entrees, sidedishes, hors d’oeuvres, desserts, champagne, wine and nonalcoholic beverages; tax deductible donation is $40.00 Doors open at 7PM, Curtain at 8PM.
For reservation and further information, call (707) 5248739.
