The Importance Of Being Earnest At The Tabard Theatre

Delicious dish Of delectable theatre, writes Susan Stanley-Carroll

David Phipps-Davis’s eloquent production of “The Importance of Being Earnest”, playing at the Tabard Theatre, Chiswick, is a delicious dish of de-lectable theatre. This Oscar Wilde irrepressible comic-farce, written in 1885, was captivating to watch and runs until 23 June.

This satire on the social complexities of the age, at times, ridiculously ab-surd, was led by a superb cast generating, on the night I attended, streams of bursting bubbles of rippling laughter punctuated by guffaws recognising the double entendres within the script. No mean feat as although many of the words and lines are a tad past their sell-by date, the script is still choc-a-bloc with quotes that will be instantly recognised.

David Phipps-Davis deftly steered his cast of 8 actors (playing 10 characters) to create a production of great charm - they are a team that delivered every nuance and pun from at times a puzzling and implausible yet brilliant script.

The pace, timing and acting were impeccable and led by the magnificent Non Vaughan-O’Hagan as Lady Bracknell. Her commanding voice, her steely eyes and her elegant demeanour controlled, not only her bewildered relatives, but the audience. My memory of Edith Evans in this roll was sent flying from the window for Non Vaughan-O’Hagan delivered those famous lines concerning ‘A handbag’ and the ‘carelessness of losing two parents” brilliantly, stylised and utterly convincing.

The plot of the play, as silly and irrepressible as it initially appears to be, is one of Oscar Wilde’s masterpieces. It concerns four upper class wealthy ‘lovers to be” all, for different reasons, are attracted to the name of Earnest. Jack and Algernon call themselves Earnest, when it suits them to do so, they, then, can avoid certain obligations! Gwendolen and Cecily both insist that they will only marry a man called Earnest. Earnest meaning honesty! And these four protagonists are anything but honest!

Samuel Oakes gave a charismatic performance as the ‘’oh, so, ‘noughty’ but, oh, such fun”, sparkling Algernon. He twinkled wickedly, teased and appeared to fall head over heels in love with ‘cute little’ Cecily (Kirsty Jackson). Kirsty is a familiar, and appealing Tabard actor.

Earnest/Jack and Qwendolen, were admirably played by Tim Gibson and Melissa Knightson kept the laughter flowing and the pace buzzed when they were on stage.

Miss Prism (Jo Ashe) and Canon Chasuble (Dean Harris) added a piquan-cy to the proceedings, particularly when they left the drawing room and their footsteps romantically crunched the garden gravel together.

Paul Foulds manipulated his three rolls as Lane, Moulton and Mr Gribsby convincingly and his dry wit added depth to the production. Altogether a team of calibre that bought an extra essence to Wilde’s script and hoots of laughter from the happy audience.

Chiswick is fortunate that theTabard can pull so many marvellous produc-tions of a high standard. And this is yet again a show not to be missed as it’ll release you from mundane matters, politics and the ‘B’ word. Tickets are selling like hot cakes so buy yours now and enjoy the absurdities of this super-silly but captivating production.

P.S: Do take some dainty cucumber sandwiches in the interval. When you attend you will understand why!

Susan Stanley-Carroll

Cast: Tim Gibson, Samuel Oakes, Melissa Knighton, Kirsty Jackson, Non Vaughan-Thomas, Jo Ashe, Dean Harris, Paul Foulds. Director: David Phipps-Davis.

June 16, 2019