What to expect from 'The Importance of Being Earnest'

This spring, the TMU's Theatre Arts Program will be performing “The Importance of Being Earnest,” a play written by the well-known playwright Oscar Wilde. Based in Victorian England, the story is a satirical, romantic comedy focusing on two young men leading double lives, attempting to escape social expectations.

Professor Tricia Hulet, director of theatre arts, says, “When most people think of the Victorian time frame, they don't think of comedy. But it's actually one of the most famous comedies ever written. It's very witty — a smart kind of funny. The goal is for the people watching it to not even realize they're in another time.”

Hulet says one of her favorite aspects of this show is the diverse experience levels of the cast, including some familiar faces as well as several who have never seen the stage.

One familiar face, sophomore Amy Johnson who is playing Lady Bracknell, is most excited about the reaction from the audience, “Wilde has written the most outrageous and outlandish characters. I just can't wait to see their responses, what they're gonna laugh at, and what they are gonna root for.”

Johnson continues, “I think I'm just excited for the audience to see what we've been working on because it's a really brilliant story.”

But the story contains underlying themes that run deeper than just an amusing plot.

Hulet says that though Wilde was an unbeliever, he was able to observe truth about society and why people do things the way that they do them.

Similarly, Johnson regards the story as a “social critque.”

“As we look at it from a biblical lens, there’s a lot of questions to ask about relationships, friendships, and motivations. We always have a good time discussing the worldviews behind the shows and how to best look at them through the lens of knowing our Creator,” Hulet says. “So how do we tell this story truthfully? We are looking forward to that.”

Weekend showings will take place March 21-22 and March 28-29.

If you are interested in coming to see the show, get your tickets here.