Oscar Wilde's first-rate script gets an excellent treatment by John Hull and the 16th Street Players in San Francisco.
Algernon, a crafty ladies' man, dilettante, and man-about-town, goes to the country for a surprise visit to his friend Jack, who pretends to be Earnest in town, Jack in the country. Jack/Earnest wishes to marry Gwendolen but is put off by Lady Bracknell who wishes to make a more aristocratic deal. Algernon, who in the country pretends to be Earnest Worthing, Jack's fictitious brother who is supposed to be quite dead of a chill in Paris, falls immediately for Cecily, Jack's ward.
The ensuing comedy of errors revolves around the obstacles to love and marriage created by family members. Paying close attention to the language reveals a wealth of jokes. Wilde toured Europe and America lecturing on Aesthetics. For Wilde, philosophy was all surface. Life was only what you could see and hear and the artist was to create works of beauty from perceptions, a task that Wilde took very seriously in his beautiful plays, stories, and poetry.
Loralee Windsor plays the apparently dignified but actually venal Lady Bracknell. She has some of the best lines, all designed to separate high from low.
Simone Koga plays Gwendolen, in love with Jack/Earnest yet solidly heedful of Bracknell and ultimately in a mistaken competition with Cecily.
Ashley Sullivan plays Cecily, with a tenderness that reveals her own high standards, her sense of humor, and her determination not be outdone by another woman.
Patrick Baressi plays Algernon/Earnest with an unflappable but bemused hand as he navigates with agility the rugged social terrain.
Abhimanyu Katyal plays the flappable Jack/Earnest with style, dueling verbally with Lady Bracknell for the hand of his beloved.
Kevin Burke plays two-servant roles so well that he looks like two completely different people. Victoria Siegel plays Miss Prism, Cecily's governess with a vulnerable dignity and Daniel Yelen plays Doctor Chasuble the Rector in an animated style that is a delight to watch. Maria Graham provides the lovely costumes.
The Importance of Being Earnest plays at the Notre Dame Senior Center at 347 Dolores until November 20th, 2011. Near 16th Street BART. Admission is free and donations requested.
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