The Importance of Being Earnest - Wilde for the Instagram Generation
For the summer season, the company at the Royal Exchange are transporting audiences to a realm of playful hedonism. From the moment you enter, the stage effervesces with fluffy pink bean bags, redolent of a Cheshire garden owned by the Cheshire Cat himself. A simple, modern apartment forms an island amidst this camp fever dream. Eleanor Bull’s set design is a marshmallow-esque triumph.This Barbie-inspired set is more than Ken-ough!
In a renowned show like The Importance of Being Earnest, cast and crew are tasked with stepping beyond the shadow cast by so many previous renditions. Parth Thakerar, as Algernon, opens the show with an aspect of Rupert Everett’s 2002 performance. Yet, whilst embracing well-loved attributes of his character, Thakerar’s Algernon is decidedly millennial. In contrast to his highly-strung friend Jack (Robin Morrissey), Algy is almost horizontally laid-back. To the audience’s delight, this pair of impeccable fops enjoy several rounds of verbal sparring throughout the show.
Engaged in an unending pursuit of excess, we watch as the two male leads eagerly pursue their female counterparts. Rumi Sutton’s performance of Cecily Cardew presents an empowered, familiar, and forthright modern young woman. Hers is a truly modern translation of a Victorian character.
Abigail Cruttenden & Phoebe Pryce as mother and daughter, Lady Bracknell & Gwendolen.
As Gwendolen, Phoebe Pryce serves a distinct air of Fleabag. Pryce is hilariously uptight as she crack’s under the pressure of her mother’s comedically heightened snobbery (laid upon her with aplomb by Abigail Cruttenden’s stylish yet brutal Lady Bracknell). Gwendolen’s girl-vs-girl exchange with Cecily is an undeniable highlight of the whole evening. Fuelled by Pryce’s impeccable comic timing, both actors seem to revel in the depth of their satire. Indeed, the entire production is enhanced by the impression that the cast are having an awful lot of fun!
The iconic one-liners of Wilde’s original script sing out, enhanced by a scattering of modern touches. Josh Roche’s show leans into the modern world of social media and our newfound compulsion to document and share our every move. This production satirises aspects of modern life that Wilde would have no doubt mocked ruthlessly. Yet, the crew have carefully reimagined the play never to detract from or attempt to retell this classic story. We enjoy the same flamboyant aphorisms that have delighted audiences for decades, with the occasional modern, northern twist.
Beyond the wonderfully caricatured performances, the introduction of whimsical lighting and inspired prop work add further layers to this tongue-in-cheek trifle. A spinning chair, a coffee cart, and a leaf blower are just a handful of perfectly collated props that maintain uproarious laughter throughout the show. In a series of delightfully unscripted moments, James Quinn’s role as a pair of butlers is transformed from a footnote to a comedy highlight. Whilst a climactic food fight between “Ernest” and “Ernest” celebrates the theatre’s unique circular arrangement masterfully.
Sheer silliness abounds in this undeniably upbeat comedy. Whether witty word play or physical clowning are your comedy preference, this production splits sides audience-wide. It’s a sheer delight to behold this playful evening of theatre.
Extended due to critical acclaim, The Importance of Being Earnest plays at the Royal Exchange Theatre, Manchester until 27th July. For tickets and more information, visit the Royal Exchange website.
For more Harpy thoughts on shows from Manchester’s iconic theatre, explore our archive of RX Theatre reviews.
Production images by Johan Persson.
