“The truth is rarely pure and never simple,” Algernon famously says to his friend Jack in Act 1 of the famous play, The Importance of Being Earnest. This timeless comedy is currently playing on Broadway in an excellent new revival at the American Airlines Theatre, and it’s worth a visit to watch the search for the truth play out.
This lively farcical show tells the tale of two men trying to win the hearts of two women…while not telling the whole truth about their own identities.
With a script, by Oscar Wilde the characters constantly sling witty one-liners back and forth, making the comedy not only enjoyable, but also equally silly and yet smart.
Santino Fontana (Billy Elliot) who plays Algernon and David Furr (Accent on Youth, Cymbeline) who portrays Jack Worthing both handle the difficult complexities of the script with ease and great comic timing. They both prove themselves to be naturals for this type of a show and are a perfectly matched duo. Not only do they both radiate star quality and talent separately, but when placed together, they sparkle with awe-inspiring chemistry. Furr’s Worthing is a great serious straight man opposite Fontana’s energetic, clever Algernon. Furr plays Jack’s anxiety as a foil against Algernon’s confidence.
The cast is overall fantastic; there is not a weak link in the bunch. Another standout is Charlotte Parry as Cecily, who plays the character with completely believable naivety.
For those unfamiliar with the plot, Algernon and Jack are friends who live in London. The show begins with Algernon questioning Jack’s other identity, why he has a different name engraved in a cigarette case. It is quickly revealed that Jack holds two identities – he is Ernest in “town” (London) and Jack in the country. His friends at his country house think Ernest is his brother, whom he often needs to visit. Algernon is shocked at this revelation but reveals that he has a similar double life – he has invented a friend named Bunberry who is often “sick” when he needs to get away.
The women in the show are Gwendolyn, played by Sarah Topham, who is the object of Jack’s affection, and Cecily, portrayed by Charlotte Parry, who is the object of Algie’s. Without Jacks’ knowledge, Algernon shows up at his country house, saying that he is Jack’s brother Ernest. Both women consequently think their boyfriends are called Ernest, when in fact, neither of them are. They play off each other wonderfully, with a delightful chemistry especially when they team up against the boys. Film star Dana Ivey plays a supporting role of Cecily’s tutor Miss Prim and she nails the character in a way a lesser actress could not.
Whenever the scenes feel long, they are broken up by the riotous appearance of Brian Bedford, who not only plays Lady Bracknell, but directed this production. He quickly removes any skepticism – he is not playing on a gimmick of cross-gender casting, he is playing Lady Bracknell. His timing is perfect, and he knows exactly how to make the audience roar with laughter. To the plot, Bracknell provides an outside force, to mediate and make decisions about the potential marriages.
The sets and costumes were designed by Tony Award winner Desmond Heeley (and former professor of design at Tisch!). The sets and costumes are enormous and beautiful – perfectly designed to transport us into the English story and away from New York.
The easiest part of this play is the script – all of the essential ingredients to create a wonderful comedy are in the text. Proving his skills as a director, Brian Bedford has created a flawless production from top to bottom. Oscar Wilde would approve.