Dep’t. of Theatre Arts to debut Oscar Wilde play
Cecily Cardew, played by Sophomore Taylor Andrews annouces her engagement to Gwendolyn Fairfax, played by Senior Sara Vanasse in the College’s upcoming production of “The Importance of Being Earnest.”
Courtesy of GCC&M
Gettysburg College’s Department of Theatre Arts and the Owl & Nightingale Players student group will present Oscar Wilde’s most well-known and beloved comedy, “The Importance of Being Earnest” Feb. 14-17.
Performances in the Majestic Theater, 25 Carlisle St., will take place at 7:30 p.m. except for Sunday, Feb. 17’s matinee at 2 p.m. Admission is $5, free with a student ID (or for children under 18) and tickets can be picked up at the Majestic box office, ordered by calling 717-337-8200, or ordered online at www.gettysburgmajestic.org/live_performances.
“Wilde’s farcical masterpiece lovingly satirizes the hypocrisies of Victorian society and seems as fresh and relevant today as it did at its premiere in 1895,” director and theatre arts department chair Chris Kauffman said. “The play is definitely a comedy through and through. It uses the triviality of the aristocracy’s seriousness as a fodder for comedy and a reminder for what is really important in life.
The cast includes Senior Alex Clint as Lady Bracknell; Senior Riley Park as Jack Worthing; Senior Sara Vanasse as Gwendolyn Fairfax; Junior David Wemer as Algernon Moncrieff; Sophomore Taylor Andrews as Cecily Cardew; Junior Kate Forton as Miss Prism; and Senior MJ Roche as Reverend Chasuble.
Scenic design is by assistant professor Eric Berninghausen and costumes are by adjunct assistant professor Kathryn Kawecki.
“We expect the audience to feel happier and smarter for having seen this production. We are confident that Wilde’s genius, combined with the generosity of the talented cast, will make for a delightful evening,” Kauffman said. “The department is presenting this play in honor of a recently deceased colleague, Jerry Hanson, who called this one of his favorite plays. This is for him.”
