By Oscar Wilde

 NODA Review by Frank Wooles

Concept Players autumn tour of the Importance of Being Earnest played at the Llanover Hall Theatre, Cardiff in September, and it was a joy to rediscover the wit and brilliance of the originator of the one-liner "put down", Oscar Wilde. Concept did him proud in a crisp, well paced production by Ruairidh MacLeod-Lyon which brought sharp clarity to the wittiness of the play and caught the style and manner of the period in its playing. Paul Buckle, with good timing and great facial expressions for comedy, was just right as the mischievous Algernon, whilst Steve Davies played with bewildered intensity his friend, John Worthing - who has a useful fictitious brother called Ernest. The poised and mannered Gwendoline was a delightful performance by Clare Davies, beautifully contrasted by Ellie Hoare as the sweetly innocent Cecily. Janet Holloway swept all before her as the formidable and imposing Lady Bracknell and Angie Dymott gave an impressive character performance as Miss Prisim, a twittering, dithering governess gently smitten with the county curate, canon Chasuble, well played by Kevin Welch. Colourful cameo roles by Lisa Sadie as Merriman, and Nigel Holloway, the manservant, Lane, completed a well-balanced and able cast. Simple staged with good furnishings and properties and elegantly costumed by Marigold of Cardiff and Concept, this was a delicious revival of this classic play.

Originally published Spring 2006