Cucumber Sandwiches for all! – The Importance of Being Earnest Review
This review of CTW’s Spring Show of 2022 – The Importance of Being Earnest- was added with the kind permission of its owner Gloria Milne.
The Importance of Being Earnest
By Oscar Wilde
Performed by Cottenham Theatre Workshop
6th – 9th April 2022
The Importance of Being Earnest was first performed on the 14th February 1895 and was described as “A trivial comedy for serious people”. Its witty dialogue and farce have helped make Oscar Wilde’s final play his most enduring and popular one.
This play never ceases to entertain and Cottenham Theatre Workshop’s first spring play for two years was an ideal choice!
There is always a warm welcome from the front of house team when members of the audience arrive. I also like the idea of buying a bottle of wine or soft drinks and sitting at a table with friends during the performance.
Much to the audience’s delight, at the end of the first act the Butler Merriman, played by John Riches, introduced the interval to the audience and the servants, who were all beautifully dressed in evening suits, served cucumber sandwiches to all which were most enjoyable!
The play was well cast and very well performed with lots of attack and pace.
Tim Kelby gave us a fine, irascible John Worthing who not only delivered his lines extremely well, but his facial expressions and body language on stage were really good.
Similarly, Ben Shimmens was a highly entertaining Algernon Moncrieff and gave us all an excellent performance. Every time I see him on stage, he gets better and better!
It was so good to see Amy Unwin again, who played Gwendolyn. She provided us with a highly entertaining performance and she had wonderful expressions throughout the play. Her delivery and characterisation were fantastic.
Morwenna Bruce gave a charming performance as Cecily. She looked delightful and was particularly strong in Act Three.
Lady Bracknell, played by Mary Garside, made a grand entrance and looked stunning in a wonderful costume and hat. Her characterisation of Lady Bracknell was brilliant and unlike some actresses I have seen in this wonderful part, she had terrific warmth, as well as being a very determined lady.
Chris Field proved to be a fine Reverend Canon Chasuble, played well, with appropriate sincerity and humility.
Miss Prism, the governess, was played by Nathalie Morgan who visibly demonstrated her enthusiasm and affection for Rev. Chasuble.
John Unwin opened the play as Lane, the manservant and he drew the audience into the play with his usual aplomb. He then allegedly spent the rest of the play visiting the market to find a cucumber!
With the usual reliable backup team that Cottenham always provides, there was an excellent set, good lighting, wonderful costumes, great refreshments and above all an amazing Director, Helen McCallum, who knows exactly how to give the appreciative audience a good night out.
THANK YOU TO EVERYONE INVOLVED.
MANY CONGRATULATIONS!
Gloria Milne
11th April 2022