Edward Alderton Theatre Home | News | This Season | Next Season | Bookings | Auditions | Members | Archive | History | Location | Links | Contact Us   The Importance of Being Earnest by Oscar Wilde Directed by Lesley Wright 2-9 July 1988 (7 performances) Two young gentlemen are being somewhat limited with the truth. To inject some excitement into their lives, Mr Worthing invents a brother, Earnest, as an excuse to leave his dull country life behind him to pursue the object of his desire, the ravishing Gwendolen. While across town, Algernon Moncrieff decides to take the name Earnest when visiting Worthing's young ward Cecily. Confusion reigns when the two end up together and their deceptions are in danger of being revealed... Cast John Worthing MP  Paul Jennings Algernon Moncrieff Mike Higginson Rev Canon Chausable DD David Hampton Merriman Derek Goulding Lane Tony Donnelly Lady Bracknell Maureen Hardwen Gwendolen Fairfax Catherine Bateman Cecily Cardew Ruth Carraway Miss Prism Mary Gibson Crew Stage Manager Janet Henderson  Assistant Stage Managers Brian Matthews Set Design Dave Phillips  Set Construction Steve Marshall Costumes Freda Phillips, Jean Sharp  Properties Chris Spencer Lighting  Tim Hewitt Sound Bob Phillips  Programme Design Lesley Wright, Justin Bateman Production Photographs Denise Poole Review Show-stealing butlers are a Wilde success It is always a pleasure visiting the Edward Alderton Theatre in Bexleyheath, and when the product is Oscar Wilde's The Importance of Being Earnest then it becomes a double delight. Unquestionably the play, which runs until this Saturday, is one of the most brilliant comedies in the English language. It transcends the ordinary by Wilde's sense of style and the superb paradox of his wit. The best compliment I can pay director Lesley Wright is to say that her production is a true product of its time, completely respectful to every Wildean concept and a joy to watch from start to finish. There are just a few kinks. Mike Higginson's Algernon needed more commitment and leaves a lot of work in the rehearsal room, and Cathy Bateman's Gwendolen, although beautifully delivered, is much too mature. David Hampton is just a little too like David Hampton as Canon Chausable, but everything else dovetails nicely. Paul Jennings as John Worthing deserves the highest praise for a performance packed with style, and Maureen Hardwen wisely resists the stereotyped approach to provide a unique and memorable Lady Bracknell. Ruth Carraway is the archetypal Cecily — young spirited and lovely, and Mary Gibson as Miss Prism is exactly right.  This only leaves the two butlers, Merriman and Lane, and herein lies the strength of the play. Derek Goulding and Tony Donnelly are both superb in roles than can quite easily be wrongly underplayed. No chance of this however, with Mr Donnelly around, and when he finally realizes his true potential and forms a theatre school for upstagemanship then I know a great many people who would benefit from it. Colin Shaw Kentish Times | 7 July 1988