This is going to be one of those reviews which hopefully will leave you wanting to see the production but with very little time to catch it on this current tour, you’ll need to be quick as it’s final performance is this evening (Tuesday).
…EARNEST is at the New Theatre in Cardiff and we were at the opening last night.
So let me begin by saying, if you have tonight free, and you want a damn good laugh, then a visit to the theatre should be on your list. A bit like the production itself, a lot of this review will comprise of audience reaction, and also JOSH HABERFIELD one of the stars of the show…..
To be honest, we’ve been waiting to see this show since it opened to rave reviews at the Edinburgh Fringe. The Importance of Being….Earnest as it was known back then, takes this classic Oscar Wilde tale and turns it right on its head. This is not only one of the funniest shows you’ll see, but you could very easily end up being in it too.
To say it’s interactive would be an understatement and while the premise will be the same, what, and who you see on stage will be very different to what we saw last night.
I hate comparing shows, and it’s unfair to do that with …Earnest, but think of the ‘Goes Wrong‘ scenario and you’ll have an idea of where the company (Say It Again, Sorry) take this production.
It starts as a traditional production of the Oscar Wilde play, and all is going well, until the lead actor fails to arrive and the cast turn to a member of the audience to star in the show. Last night it was Chris who took on the titular role, with many other audience members joining in throughout the production. As you could imagine, the whole process of choosing the ‘audience cast’ to getting them in costume and on stage was hilarious, but also very much a ‘you had to be there moment‘.
From there on in we have impromptu auditions taking place, more audience being encouraged to take part in the show and effectively the original script is torn up and we have a whole new, completely unique to us production.
The real cast are superb, not only remembering where they are in the story but listening, watching and guiding the new audience cast around the set. This all leads to some terrific slapstick comedy and more than a few unexpected moments, which also took the cast by surprise.
To say the show is mad, chaotic and unpredictable is also a testament to its brilliance. We’ve not had as much fun watching the audience as much as we have the stage.
We certainly can’t review the show you’ll get to see as it will be very different to last nights performance. We fell certain you’ll have your own Chris and Jim and other audience members who will make this one of the funniest and most memorable nights you’ll have at the theatre.
…EARNEST is at the New Theatre in Cardiff this evening, so it really is a catch it while you can scenario. The show starts at 7:30pm and you can get your tickets HERE.
