Take a walk on the Wilde side

MC’s production of The Importance of Being Ernest

By Rebekah McCombs
Courier Staff

During this weekend only, the student-directed production of Oscar Wilde’s play, “The Importance of Being Ernest,” will be at Wells Theater

“This is a hilarious comedy that includes a mistaken identity, couples, love, family and much to do about nothing,” says freshman Johanna Elkana.

Senior Kathleen Kolbel is directing the play for her senior directing project for her major and said, “I read this play this summer and I really enjoyed it. When it was ‘okayed’ by Doc Wallace, I decided to do it.”

In addition, Kolbel has two assistant directors helping her: sophomores Katie Leifke and Leanna Wilson.  

The cast had had about a month to prepare for this production and, according to Kolbel, “The cast has put in a great amount of hours and I’m very grateful for all their work.”

As a whole, the cast mentioned their two favorite scenes in the play are in Act II, when characters Gwendolen and Cecily have their talk and the end of the play because there is so much action, adventure and pirates.

According to Kolbel, “It was fun casting the play because I could see certain characteristics that they portrayed through auditions. That’s how I knew who should go where.”

Sophomore cast member Michael Heaton explained, “The fact is we have had little time to prepare this and we have all been so busy. Seeing how far this play has come shows how hard we’ve worked, and that says a lot.”

Some of the actors and actresses said they felt like they related to their characters and for those who did not, they said it was fun for them to play someone completely different.

Senior Lindsey Markel, cast member, remarked, “Kathleen handles our rowdiness with a graceful, but firm hand.”

The set and lighting designs were constructed by Doug Rankin, professor of communication and theater arts and the college’s resident technical director and designer, and the costume design was done by Tim Holmes, costume shop supervisor.

According to Koelbel, “This has been the greatest experience ever and I’ve really enjoyed it.”

“The Importance of Being Ernest” will be performed Friday, Oct. 7 and Saturday, Oct. 8 at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday, Oct. 9 at 2 p.m. in Wells Theater.

Tickets can be purchased at the door for $2, and to order tickets in advance, contact William Wallace -2374.

The cast of the production are as follows: senior Markel as Cecily Cardew; junior Bryan Blanks as Algernon Moncrieff; sophomores Heaton as John Worthing, Ellen Ehrenhart as Gwendolen Fairfax, Sarah Youngs as Miss Prism and Gregory Malak as Dr. Chausable and freshmen Brian Rowe as Lane, John McElligott as Merriman and Elkana as Lady Bracknell.