General News
27 June, 2023
Trivial play for the serious
IT may look as though a late Victorian matron sits amidst her family in this portrait sitting, but don’t let looks fool you.
In The Importance of Being Earnest, directed by Kevin Shorey, it’s actually Cath Willacy (as Lady Bracknell) proving, once again, what a commanding actress she is as she sets the standard of appropriate behaviour for all around her, while at the same time, letting slip that at one stage in her earlier years: “I had nothing, but I didn’t let that get in the way.”
Mr Shorey said unaware of the machinations of the men in the life of her daughter, Gwendolen, she turned out to be the catalyst in the denouement of this clever, light-hearted comedy of manners created by the famous playwright, Oscar Wilde.
“Set in the late Victorian period, the costumes, furniture, set decoration and behaviour captures the elegant style and feigned rigidity of the period, against which the beautiful young people attempt to win the affections of their chosen partners,” he said.
“All this occurs under the all-knowing household butlers, namely Lane (Josh Holt) in London and Merriman (Paul Hynes) in the manor in Shropshire.
“They, along with the audiences of this classic comedy at the Rondo, have an outright laugh at the expense of their ‘so called’ betters. Surely the whole point behind Wilde’s insightful view and comment on the society of the time,” Mr Shorey said.
The comedy will play at the Rondo, Greenslopes St, from Friday, June 30 to Saturday, July 15, with a matinee on Sunday, July 9 at 1pm.
For session times and tickets, see the Rondo's website:
therondo.com.au/book or call 0415 822 333.
