‘embodies Wilde’s satirical swipe at dysfunctional families, class, gender, and sexuality, and is all the better for doing so’
The challenge of Oscar Wilde is not in the words but ensuring the performance does them justice. There were no such fears with director Paul Arends’ impressive production which delights from the off.
As butler Lane (Daisy Jobbins) prepares tea at the London home of dandy Algernon Moncrief (Kyle Jensen), their conversation cleverly hints at the challenges to come when his friend John Worthing (Kenny Young) arrives, explaining that when he tires of life in the country looking after his teenage ward, he escapes to enjoy the high life of the city under the guise of seeing his wayward brother, ‘Ernest’. Algernon, in turn, regales him with his exploits of escaping the city in reverse fashion. Algernon’s aunt, Lady Bracknell (Lorna Pout), arrives with her daughter, Gwendolen Fairfax (Cat Fox-Kirk), to whom John wishes to become engaged, but can he meet Lady Bracknell’s exacting standards?
Switching to John’s country estate, his ward, Cecily Cardew (Elle Murphy), toys with her Governess, Miss Prism (Angela McComb) with Rev. Canon Chasuble (Kevin Thomas) loitering in the wings, whilst butler Merriman (Manuj Rastogi) is so much put upon that he needs assistance from the gardener, Moulton (Dave Owens). It’s one thing for John when Algernon turns up pretending to be his wayward brother ‘Ernest’ in order to woo the young ward, but when solicitor Gribsby (Samra Uddin) arrives to recover a wayward debt, closely followed by Gwendolen with Lady Bracknell in hot pursuit, the fun really starts in a hilarious series of mistaken identities: will anyone learn the importance of being earnest?
There were a couple of minor moments which is to be expected on an opening night, but they were so expertly worked round by a talented cast that you wouldn’t have known; one is perhaps even worth keeping in. At its heart, this production embodies Wilde’s satirical swipe at dysfunctional families, class, gender and sexuality, and is all the better for doing so.
Haley Jeffrey’s striking set design, complemented by light and sound from Tim Saint and Meg Doherty, perfectly captured the period with great attention to detail across the three distinct scenes, and the use of colour, further reflected in the wonderful costumes from Carol Golightly and Angela Clarke, was exquisite. Set changes were well thought through and delivered seamlessly by Catherine Flower.
Very much a play of pairs and contrasts, Young’s strong performance as the upright yet compromised Worthing was perfectly offset by Jensen’s delightfully comic Moncrief, and with them very much opposite sides of the same coin, the mimicry was well delivered.
McComb’s Prism and Thomas’ Dr Chasuble were sensitively portrayed in a humorous ‘will they, won’t they’ routine, whilst Uddin was especially entertaining as the solicitor. In the lower orders, Jobbins served up a particularly enjoyable Lane, Ramogi was suitably officious as Merriman, and Owens’ deadpan style almost stole a scene.
With Pout playing an imperious Lady Bracknell with full aplomb, Fox-Kirk was irresistible as the assured young Gwendolen in an impressive performance whilst Murphy perfected the precocious teenager Cecily to a tee; combined they were both well and truly calling the shots, demonstrating consummate timing delivering some cleverly choreographed routines from Arends and assistant director Chrysanthi Fergani.
Thingwall Community Centre is a vibrant hub where individuals and groups come together to connect, learn, and grow, offering a range of activities and services to cater to the needs and interests of the community. Further details https://www.thingwall.org/
Thingwall Players is a community theatre group based at Thingwall Community Centre who put on plays and pantomimes throughout the year and are always looking for new members. Why not get in touch at https://www.thingwall.org/thingwall-players/
Thingwall is also home to The Irregular Impro Group who run short-form, drop-in improvisation sessions every other Tuesday. Contact pparends@hotmail.com for more information.
The Importance of Being Earnest plays through to 1st August at 7.30pm at Thingwall Community Centre (149 Thingwall Road L15 7JX). Booking available via https://www.trybooking.com/uk/eventlist/thingwallplayers
Review Date: 30th July 2026
Star Rating: FOUR