The Importance of Being Earnest -- first preview

Just back from the first preview of The Importance of Being Earnest. A very quick response: Wonderful.

I loved this staging--the actors almost all dug right into the deeply wonderful and witty script and had a ball with it. In a smallish role, Dana Ivey is every bit the hoot you'd expect and hope she would be. Santino Fontana is giving the most wonderful performance I've seen from him (and I've seen and enjoyed him in quite a bit). And Brian Bedford is simply incomparable--a master of the stage who delights at every opportunity and manages to find laughs even between the lines with that wonderfully expressive face of his.

The sets are lovely; the costumes are fantastic; and it rolls along at a jaunty clip. The best thing I've seen at the American Airlines in years (I admit I wasn't a fan of Everyday Rapture or Present Laughter).

That said, there were some walk-outs. I don't know what those people were thinking, though I'm sure if anyone here hated it, they'll share their thoughts as well!

I saw it at The Stratford Festival. Thought it a HUGE bore. What is new about a MALE Bracknell? NOTHING. We've seen it and frankly its an insult to the many women of a certain age who SHOULD be playing it! I'd love to see Dana Ivey in THAT role! Or Rosie Harris or Helen Carey or Suzanne Bertish...I could go on and on with actresses who live on THIS shore! I'd loved to have seen Stockard do it (she played it in Ireland) I am interested in seeing the new cast as the Stratford cast was weak with a fat Jack a lisping Algernon and a braying Chasuble! I hope this cast will be an improvement.

Updated On: 12/18/10 at 12:25 AM

OOPS! Thanks for the correction- A MALE Bracknell. Yes. NOTHING new.

Shows never start on time, intermissions never are exactly the duration they claim to be, and shows vary from night to night... it'll be pushing it.

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I believe you are in the minority on this one, Whyoh2. The production won outstanding reviews at Stratford and drew sold out appreciative audiences. Maybe it was more the play than the production which you disliked.

I agree with the gimmick of a man playing Bracknell, BORING! Yes, in the press Brian Bedford goes on to the details of playing Bracknell as a real person, but really? Really, we need another man impersonating a woman? I'm sick of it, it only illuminates the choice roles being taken by the male ego that they can "play the lion too". Stockard Channing, Dana Ivey herself or any number of talented actresses have much more appeal to play a "real" woman.

"Personally, I've seen the play several times and even good productions haven't come close to the perfection of the film. But Bedford's performance is precisely the reason that could draw me back to seeing it again."

Likewise. I may have gone to see this, as I love the play, but Bedford playing Bracknell assures that I will.

What an idiotic statement you made, whyohwhyoh.

This isn't about seeing a "male actor" play Lady Bracknell. This is about seeing Brian Bedford play Lady Bracknell.

Do you understand the difference between those two statements? If not, read them again. Aloud.

If you made your ignorant comment not knowing who he is or what's he's done in his career, go look it up.

If you made your ignorant comment knowing who he is, then you clearly have no taste or respect or imagination and I pity you.

When I was in high school, I had the privilege and pleasure of seeing Brian Bedford give a series of extraordinary performances on Broadway in two Moliere plays translated by the gifted Richard Wilbur, first The Misanthrope and then The School for Wives. It was a perfect marriage of performer and material. I don't think I would have developed as much of an appreciation for classical theater if I hadn't seen those performances, and I wish you had been able to see them or their like.

I'm seeing Earnest tonight and I can't wait!

(And I'm SO excited to see Dana Ivey as Miss Prism!)

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And who calls Rosemary Harris "Rosie" anyway?

Or were you confusing her with Rosemary Clooney?

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You don't know who you are talking to. I have seen Bedford in Five Finger Exercise, Hamlet at Stratford Conn, Measure For Measure, The Misanthrope, School For Wives, Tartuffe, Two Shakespearean Actors, The Little Foxes, Jumpers, Amadeus, Equus, London Assurance, Private Lives (three different productions) The Tempest, Richard 2, Richard 3, MacBeth, 12Th Night (3 different Productions), and I could go on and on and on. I am a fan of Bedford as is evidenced by the number of shows that I have seen with him starring. They span a 50 year history so that is what I am bringing to the conversation. AND I actually saw the production in Stratford. I don't care what the reviews were. I found it boring and lifeless. Bedford was servicable and mugged a great deal. The rest of the cast was a hodgepodge- A fat fast talking Jack, an Algernon with a lisp, and a braying Chasuble. I have said that I hope this cast is an improvement which is probable as Paxton Whitehead and Dana Ivey are sublime. As for my ill- used choice of Susan Fleetwood, my apologies- I was a HUGE fan of hers and simply forgot that she had passed away. Another Brit who is living in America who would be great would be Charlotte Cornwall.

Dollypop: Mary Louise Wilson played Miss Prism at a Circle in the Square production in the '70s. Did Jan Miner [note spelling] ever play the role?

A fat fast talking Jack, an Algernon with a lisp, and a braying Chasuble.

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I will not get personal about this. I am not trying to get "icky". Just setting the record straight and laying out my history with being a Bedford fan. Unlike most of the people on this site, I've actually SEEN the production on which this one is based. Philosphically I am opposed to a great woman's role usurped by a man as (despite what one poster wrote) there are NOT a lot of great roles for women of a certain age. Male actors selfishly grab these roles and resent when a woman takes a Hamlet once in a blue moon. The Male Bracknell thing has now become a cliche and a sad one. But at least we agree on something- Paxton Whitehead is brilliant.