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The Importance of Being Earnest – April 2023

The Importance of Being Earnest is a piece of witty perfection from the king of the epigram: Oscar Wilde. This play forms an attack on realism with larger than life characters and absurd situations that everyone can enjoy.

The Copthorne Players’ production of Earnest ran for three nights in April 2023, and featured a brand new director for the group in Louisa Worssam. We also welcomed two new members into the cast, who hit the ground running. Louisa said: “I was inundated by an array of female talent at the auditions and, in this age of gender fluidity, it seemed only sensible to utilise their skills in this production. It has been an absolute pleasure working with all these gifted actors and producing a play of which we can be proud.”

Audiences said:

“Our first time at the Village Hall, thoroughly enjoyed the production. Well done, we will be back!”

“Absolutely excellent. Wonderful cast who played their characters brilliantly. I think it’s one for the Players to reprise in the near future! Five stars!”

“What an excellent performance, Copthorne Players at their best!”

“Lane! Why are there no cucumber sandwiches?”
Gwendolen is sitting on a chair, dressed in a dark orange dress with cream lace over the bodice. She is holding out her hand imperiously to Jack, who is kneeling next to the chair. Jack is wearing a dark suit.
“But you haven’t proposed to me yet!”
Jack struggles to keep his patience with Lady Bracknell.
In the foreground, Miss Prism looks down at someone out of frame. Her lips are pursed and her eyebrows raised. She looks disapproving. Her hair is pulled back into a bun. She wears a white blouse buttoned right up to her chin and a long black skirt. An oval brooch is pinned to the collar of the blouse. She has glasses on a chain around her neck and is clutching a small leather-bound book. Behind her, Dr Chasuble is standing with his arms behind his back. He is dressed all in black, with a white vicar's collar. The chain of a pocket watch is visible under his jacket. He wears wire-framed glasses. They are both standing in front of a green ivy hanging, which is dotted with red and yellow roses.
Dr Chasuble and Miss Prism look on disapprovingly.
Gwendolen Fairfax observes Cecily Cardew appraisingly through her glasses. Both young women are seated side by side on a white bench. Behind them, you can see a trellis and hanging ivy with dotted red roses. Gwendolen is dressed in a pastel yellow dress with draping sleeves. Cecily is posing to be observed, looking out to the audience with a vapid smile. Her dress is pastel blue, with sheer sleeves.
“Do you mind me looking at you through my glasses?”
Cecily is holding her diary open and showing Algernon an entry in it. Cecily is pouting as she speaks. Algernon is leaning forward to see better, looking very alarmed. Cecile is dressed in a pastel blue dress with sheer sleeves and lace at the cuffs. She has a large white hair ribbon in her wavy red hair. Algernon is wearing a dark green jacket with cream stripes.
“Today, I broke off my engagement with Ernest. I felt it was better to do so. The weather still continues charming.”
We are in a sitting room or parlour, with green panelled walls. A fireplace is decorated with flowers in vases atop the mantle. Above that, a painted mirror reflects a small chandelier. Lady Bracknell is in the foreground, wearing a dark green velvet skirt suit and a wide-brimmed straw hat. She is wearing black gloves. Under her green jacket, she is wearing a white blouse fastened at the neck with a brooch. To the right of her, Gwendolen is perched on a pale orange chaise longue. Gwendolen is dressed in a pale yellow dress with draping sleeves. She is looking down and away in shame.
Lady Bracknell pronounces judgment.