While the student-athletes of Taft have spent their winter afternoons skating at the hockey rink or speeding down the snowy slopes, our very own student actors and stage technicians have been hard at work crafting a world set in Victorian England. This year’s winter play is The Importance of Being Earnest, a whimsical comedy by Oscar Wilde brimming with witty dialogue, mistaken identities, and an unexpected journey of love and finding one’s identity. From its inception in 1895, this 130-year-old play has become a charming staple of English theatre, so there is no doubt that this year’s cast will humor and impress us with their production.
The Importance of Being Earnest depicts the convoluted escapades of two friends, Jack Worthing and Algernon Moncrieff, who adopt alternative identities to escape unwanted social obligations. Jack (Steven Zhang ‘26) is a seemingly upstanding gentleman in the countryside, but during his escapes to London he adopts the guise of his fictitious brother “Ernest.” Similarly, Algernon (Jabari King ‘26) invents a similar alibi — a sickly friend named “Bunbury” — to dodge tiresome dinner parties. However, the carefully constructed lies of these gentlemen begin to unravel as they begin to fall in love — Jack to Algernon’s cousin Gwendolen (Elle Smiley ‘25), and Algernon to Jack’s ward Cecily (Melissa Maselli ‘26). What follows is a cascade of misunderstandings, witty repartee, and comedic twists that are equally preposterous and profound.
What makes the winter play different from the fall musical is its move from Bingham Auditorium to the Woodward “Black Box” Theater, a smaller, more intimate space that seats 200. “It is such a versatile space,” says Mrs. Fifer, drama teacher and the co-director of this season’s production. “The new lighting is wonderful and so much easier to play with and design. And since the black box is right smack in the middle of everything, there is a good chance that the community will see what we are working on and be enticed to come check it out.”
With rows of seats surrounding three sides of the stage, actors often find themselves face-to-face with an audience just a few feet away. The design of the set itself, depicting an intricate Victorian drawing room and garden, is the perfect setting for our actors donning appropriately pompous suits and elegant dresses. Behind each scene, the technical crew has worked tirelessly to ensure seamless transitions and impeccable lighting, all contributing to the comedic timing of the play.
From the director’s seat, Mrs. Fifer is joined by Mr. Gales, a new member of Taft’s college counseling office who previously played the lead role of Jack Worthing in another production. Bringing in first-hand experience in both performance and stage direction, this team has brought invaluable insight to the cast and the stage. “He is simply the best,” says Mrs. Fifer. “We laugh at the same things, and we also have different strengths. I love spontaneity, and he loves consistency, and both of those are requirements for directing.” Every rehearsal has been an exercise in creativity and collaboration — from tinkering with stage blocking to decoding Wilde’s razor-sharp wit. To that end, Mrs. Fifer and Mr. Gales have trained the cast through a variety of novel exercises, including checking each character’s inner motivations and having actors enunciate their lines while chewing on muffins and marshmallows.
As opening night quickly approaches, the cast and the entire production team are filled with excitement to share this production with the Taft community. Whether you are an avid fan of theatre or someone who has never seen a play, we promise an evening filled with laughter, surprises, and a touch of Wildean wisdom. The Importance of Being Earnest will be shown in the Black Box Theatre on Thursday, February 20th, and Friday, February 21st, at 7:00 PM, with a matinee on Saturday, February 22nd, at 3 PM. We welcome you to see what happens when the trivialities of life are anything but and why, in matters of great importance, it’s always best to be earnest.
