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The Importance of Being Earnest Reviews
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Tony for best actress....Brian Bedford !!!!!!! Review by: Diract 66, Jun 9, 2011 |
| A simply great performance by Brian Bedford steals the show from the main characters of this play. The part of Lady Bracknell is usually a crowd pleaser but not to the extent of Bedford’s performance. This production was much funnier than previous ones that I have seen, and thank goodness, because Wilde can be pretty talkative,even though this production seemed to move along at a good pace. A beautiful set and lighting helps set the mood of ... read more this show. Lady Bracknell’s costumes are amazing and look good on Bedford. Never once did I feel that there was a man playing a woman because the character in the play is a gruff old stuffy aristocrat and Bedford has all the gestures and smirks that make him seem as a real lady! The premise of the show, Algernon and Jack both have different character personalities in the town and the country and this leads to love, and from the ladies, Gwendolyn and Cecily, their Importance of being Earnest. Igf you have ever heard the term Bunbury or bunburying this is where it came from. Each actor does a fine job and all are quite believable in the parts. If you want to see a classic play taught in Theatre classes still today, see this production. If you want to see why a supporting role can played by a great actor can simply overshadow everyone else in the cast, see this show. If you want to hear quotes and famous sayings, not from Shakespeare, still used today, see this show. |
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My recommendation:
must see!
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I doubt you’ve seen a production as top-notch as this one Review by: Tom Bestor, May 1, 2011 |
Yes, you’ve probably seen it before, most likely at a local high school. “Earnest” has been a staple of youth theater for decades. The problem is, kids miss the satire present in the farce. Brian Bedford, the director and star of this wonderful new production, most assuredly does not. Beneath the veneer of the very correct manners on display, the blood is flowing freely. And not just from the characters – Wilde himself is skewering the ... read more aristocracy for their idleness. His references to “The Society for the Prevention of Discontent in the Upper Classes” and an article titled “The Influence of a Permanent Income on Thought” are just two of my favorite examples.
All the Wilde wit is on display, the costumes – especially the gowns created for Bedford’s portrayal of Lady Bracknell – are stunning, and the cast is terrific.
Even if you’ve seen “Earnest” many times, I doubt you’ve seen a production as top-notch as this one. |
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Review by: hairybs, Apr 19, 2011 |
| I LOVE the story BUT I didn;t like this production. I felt it was overacted and slow. Although it wasn't horrible, I would recommend seeing other shows. |
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My recommendation:
Don't go
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Time well spent! Review by: Nick, Jan 20, 2011 |
| To all involved in this production we salute you! Hail to the chief (Brian Bedford) who directed a glorious cast and played a riveting, laugh-out-loud Lady Bracknell. This production is why we go to the theater. A standing ovation also to the set designer(s) - superb work. |
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My recommendation:
must see!
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A Rare Opportunity Review by: DoctorJoeE, Jan 20, 2011 |
This will sound like heresy, but Oscar Wilde is a bit like Shakespeare -- hear me out! -- in the sense that an ordinary production is VERY ordinary and tedious; but a well-directed professional production is the best theatrical experience there is. The last Manhattan production of "Earnest" was, unfortunately, very ordinary; competent but uninspired and poorly-directed actors hurriedly reciting their lines instead of acting them. ... read more By the third act I was looking at my watch more often than the stage; the end couldn't come soon enough.
The current Roundabout production could not be more different -- very professional, very funny, and enormously entertaining -- quite possibly the best interpretation of "Earnest" ever, certainly the best I've ever seen -- and the standard by which to judge all others. Brian Bedford has received most of the attention as director and star, and I can't see how he cannot win Tony Awards for both. (Does a man playing a woman get nominated as best actor or best actress? Just askin'...) But I hope his superb work doesn't overshadow excellent performances by the other actors, in particular David Furr and Sara Topham, who both (like Bedford) bring difficult roles to life with remarkable effortlessness. Santino Fontana and Charlotte Parry are very good as the secondary characters. Dana Ivey does a great job as well, with the relatively minor role of Miss Prism.
The other masterpieces of this production are the sets, designed by the legendary Desmond Heeley, who clearly gets the farcical, unrealistic spirit of "Earnest", and created beautiful, ethereal environments to complement it.
I know I'm gushing here -- but I absolutely loved this production. Three hours flew by, and when the final curtain came down I almost wished there might be a fourth act I had never heard about.
The opportunities to see historic theatre performed really, really well are just too few and far between not to seize them whenever you can. Go, and bring your kids; it will be a long time before you (or they) will get another chance to see an "Earnest" anywhere close to this good. |
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My recommendation:
must see!
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An oldie but a goodie! Review by: Legs, Jan 6, 2011 |
| Delightful! Everything about this production is well done and thoroughly enjoyable. It's a great show for those who know the play as well as for those who do not. Especially nice to see Santino Fontana again; he was wonderful in Brighton Beach Memoirs and he is wonderful as Algernon. Brian Bedford is a perfect Lady Bracknell, as well as the director of this classic. |
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My recommendation:
Make an effort to see
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| * Review is an opinion of a BroadwayBox user and not that of BroadwayBox.com and BroadwayBox, Inc. |
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