| the_importance_of_being_earnest_programme_notes_4.doc |
Programme notes for THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING EARNEST, by OSCAR WILDE
Jack wishes to marry Algernon’s cousin, the beautiful Gwendolen, but first he must convince her mother, the fearsome Lady Bracknell, of the respectability of his parents and his past.
CAST (In order of Speaking)
ALGERNON MONCRIEFF is played by THOMAS HOWES. A tall, broad young man, with a square head, brown hair in side parting, large smile, prominent chin, and plump cheeks. He is dashingly dressed in a blue paisley patterned smoking jacket, trimmed at the collar, lapels, pockets and cuffs with red velvet. He wears a white Eaton collared shirt, with a small cravat and blue, white and purple coloured waistcoat. His grey trousers have a fine pale grey stripe, and he smokes a cigarette in a long holder.
In the country he wears a different grey jacket, trimmed with dark grey around the cuffs, pocket and lapels, a grey and white checked waistcoat, and large pink rose in the button hole. His cravat is green paisley pattern; his shirt has a high white collar, and his brown shoes have pale leather spats. He has a straw hat.
LANE, Algernon’s obsequious butler, is played by SIMON SHAKELTON. He is elderly with dark, greying hair parted in the middle; a large square face, with jowls, long nose, shaggy eyebrows, narrow lips and plump neck.
He wears a white wing collared shirt and black tie, under a black jacket, with black waistcoat, pinstriped black trousers, white gloves and black shoes
He also plays Merriman, Jack’s butler, with an added moustache, wearing a similar outfit.
PETER SANDYS –CLARKE plays JACK WORTHING, a young man, with a pale face, with thin lips, neat nose, dark eyebrows and straight brown hair swept back from his receding hair line. Of medium height, he wears a round collared white shirt, with a maroon and gold paisley patterned cravat, maroon waistcoat, with a watch chain, and a gray jacket and trousers, both with narrow dark red stripes, maroon coloured handkerchief in his breast pocket, and brown shoes with spats.
His mourning outfit, is a shiny tall black hat, worn with black tail coat, black tie , trousers and shoes, and he carries a black trimmed handkerchief.
LADY BRACKNELL, is played by GWEN TAYLOR. She acted in the Billy plays, and Coronation Street.
Aged in her late seventies, she sweeps imperiously into Algernon’s drawing room.
Short dark blond curly hair frames her plump oval face; her eyes and eyebrows are brown, and she has a small nose and mouth.
She wears a large, wide purple hat, lined with purple satin and decorated with gold feathers on top. Her wide dress, with gold bustle at the rear, is of lavender coloured satin, with a panel down the front of purple pleated satin; tight gold sleeves, cape of gold patterned brocade, trimmed with pleated purple, and stand up collar. A double string of pearls, silver drop earrings, purple gloves, fan and handbag complete her outfit.
GWENDOLEN FAIRFAX is played by KERRY ELLIS. She is young, with bouffant, rolled dark blond hair, well shaped eyebrows, upturned nose, and wide mouth, with perfect teeth, bright red lipstick, and drop pearl earrings. A turquoise blue hat with wide brim, rolls of yellow satin and a feather on top is perched on her head. Her waist length top of blue satin has leg of mutton sleeves, tight below the elbows, appliquéd lace pattern, and tan buttons down the front and cuffs. Her long skirt, with extra pleat at the rear, flounced above the hem, is of a tan and blue pattern. She carries a small tan velvet bag with draw strings.
MOULTON, the maid, is played by HANNAH LOUISE HOWELL, wearing a black dress, with frilled pinafore, and frilled cap, black stockings and shoes.
SUSAN PENHALIGON, who acted in Upstairs and Downstairs, plays the part of MISS PRISM, an ageing spinster, with wavy brown hair piled on top of her head, brown eyebrows, small mouth and nose, and plump cheeks and chin. She wears a red striped blouse with long cuffs, small cameo brooch on a dark pink bow at the neck.
Her waist is cinched in by a broad red leather belt, with a silver buckle. Her long brown skirt has two narrow rows of red her braid above the hem, and she wears white gloves. She wears a small straw hat when in the country.
CECILY CARDEW is played by LOUISE COULTHARD. Aged eighteen, her long straight reddish brown hair is worn in a centre parting, tied back by a white bow. Her wide face has well defined eyebrows, blue eyes, straight nose, and shapely mouth with pale pink lipstick.
Her long dress is of pale blue, with a light yellow stripe. The top half of the long sleeves is covered by transparent puffed gauze; their sides and cuffs have a dark blue trim with white lace; the bodice has an inset of yellow satin with small pale blue bows and blue braid narrow stripes at each side. The long wide skirt with an extra pleat at the back has one row of knotted gauze with black braid in the centre and two rows of black braid above the hem. Her shoes are brown. She carries a book with a grey cover, lace trimmed, forget-me- knots tucked in along with many bookmarks.
REV. CANNON CHASUBLE is played by GEOFF AYMER, a middle aged, stocky
Man, dark skinned with a broad face, bald head, wide nose, plump cheeks and wide mouth. He wears a straw hat with a black band, Knee length black coat with a stand –up collar, buttoned from neck to hem, gray trousers, white shirt, and carries a missal.
THE SET
The play comprises 3 acts.
Act 1 is set in Algernon’s flat on Half Moon Street, London at 4.45pm
Act 2 is set in the greenhouse of The Manor, Jack Worthing’s country house in Hertfordshire at 2pm the following day
Act 3 is set in the library at The Manor at 2.40pm the same day
The set and furniture evoke the Victorian era in which the play is set.
The drawing room in Algernon’s flat is created with panelled walls on 3 sides. There are no doorways but gaps create entrances and exits upstage on the left and right sides and through the back towards the right hand side. The panelled walls are dark brown wood, the lower half is solid and the upper half is glazed, the lower half has a very small square pattern. Above this there is border with a repeating swirl pattern. The upper half appears glazed with irregular curved and linear shaped panels, almost like those of a Rennie Mackintosh design, some of which are opaque.
Centre stage is a small coffee table behind which sits a small ornate wooden framed sofa with yellow velvet padding and a few striped cushions scattered on it. The coffee table sits on a rug and on top of it there are china cups and plates.
To the left, against the rear wall is a tall luscious green fern plant in a small brass pot.
Beside this there is a small wooden writing table with some pages, a small picture and a lamp
Against the left wall stands a small wooden locker with pale floral panels
In front of this there are two wooden dining chairs side-by-side facing out. Made of dark curved wood with some ornate detailing they have pale green leather seat.
Coffee set
Downstage from this is an ornate curved and padded wing chair
To the right of this there is a small occasional table on which rests a vase of pale blossoms and alongside this there is a green leather chaise longue
Each wall has a light with a fine glass lamp-shade attached
Three crystal tear-drop shaped lights hang on chains from above
The same panelled walls are used for the greenhouse at The Manor, however now they have pots of bushy hanging ivy suspended from them.
The three lights have been replaced with more ivy plants.
There are potted plants and bushes around the edge of the set. There is a potted rose-bush downstage left.
Upstage centre right there is a white metal swing chair with a fleur-de-lis design, it is padded with cream cushions with a fine navy stripe.
Downstage left there is small white metal round patio table with two chairs at it, there are books on the table.
Two similar chairs sit stage right.
To create the library at The Manor rows of books are now housed behind the upper panels of the walls and 3 chandeliers are suspended from above.
Centrally positioned against the rear wall is a small set of free-standing steps with ornate carving and a brass pole to hold on to. To the right is a large dresser with a glazed display unit.
Against the right wall is a small writing bureau, beside which sits a wooden carver chair
Centre is a rectangular coffee table on a rectangular rug around which sit 3 mismatched wingchairs
Upstage left is a large writing table with 4 drawers down each side and one in the middle
Downstage left is an octagonal occasional table with a carver chair beside it
All of the furniture is a highly polished dark walnut colour
Director: Alistair Whatley
Designer: Gabriella Slade
Lighting: Alan Valentine
Sound: Giles Thomas
Producer: Tom Hackney
Audio Description by Sara Duncan and Cara Smith/ Sightlines
These programme notes will be read ten minutes before the play begins.
Please be seated, with your headsets, if you wish to hear them.
Jack wishes to marry Algernon’s cousin, the beautiful Gwendolen, but first he must convince her mother, the fearsome Lady Bracknell, of the respectability of his parents and his past.
CAST (In order of Speaking)
ALGERNON MONCRIEFF is played by THOMAS HOWES. A tall, broad young man, with a square head, brown hair in side parting, large smile, prominent chin, and plump cheeks. He is dashingly dressed in a blue paisley patterned smoking jacket, trimmed at the collar, lapels, pockets and cuffs with red velvet. He wears a white Eaton collared shirt, with a small cravat and blue, white and purple coloured waistcoat. His grey trousers have a fine pale grey stripe, and he smokes a cigarette in a long holder.
In the country he wears a different grey jacket, trimmed with dark grey around the cuffs, pocket and lapels, a grey and white checked waistcoat, and large pink rose in the button hole. His cravat is green paisley pattern; his shirt has a high white collar, and his brown shoes have pale leather spats. He has a straw hat.
LANE, Algernon’s obsequious butler, is played by SIMON SHAKELTON. He is elderly with dark, greying hair parted in the middle; a large square face, with jowls, long nose, shaggy eyebrows, narrow lips and plump neck.
He wears a white wing collared shirt and black tie, under a black jacket, with black waistcoat, pinstriped black trousers, white gloves and black shoes
He also plays Merriman, Jack’s butler, with an added moustache, wearing a similar outfit.
PETER SANDYS –CLARKE plays JACK WORTHING, a young man, with a pale face, with thin lips, neat nose, dark eyebrows and straight brown hair swept back from his receding hair line. Of medium height, he wears a round collared white shirt, with a maroon and gold paisley patterned cravat, maroon waistcoat, with a watch chain, and a gray jacket and trousers, both with narrow dark red stripes, maroon coloured handkerchief in his breast pocket, and brown shoes with spats.
His mourning outfit, is a shiny tall black hat, worn with black tail coat, black tie , trousers and shoes, and he carries a black trimmed handkerchief.
LADY BRACKNELL, is played by GWEN TAYLOR. She acted in the Billy plays, and Coronation Street.
Aged in her late seventies, she sweeps imperiously into Algernon’s drawing room.
Short dark blond curly hair frames her plump oval face; her eyes and eyebrows are brown, and she has a small nose and mouth.
She wears a large, wide purple hat, lined with purple satin and decorated with gold feathers on top. Her wide dress, with gold bustle at the rear, is of lavender coloured satin, with a panel down the front of purple pleated satin; tight gold sleeves, cape of gold patterned brocade, trimmed with pleated purple, and stand up collar. A double string of pearls, silver drop earrings, purple gloves, fan and handbag complete her outfit.
GWENDOLEN FAIRFAX is played by KERRY ELLIS. She is young, with bouffant, rolled dark blond hair, well shaped eyebrows, upturned nose, and wide mouth, with perfect teeth, bright red lipstick, and drop pearl earrings. A turquoise blue hat with wide brim, rolls of yellow satin and a feather on top is perched on her head. Her waist length top of blue satin has leg of mutton sleeves, tight below the elbows, appliquéd lace pattern, and tan buttons down the front and cuffs. Her long skirt, with extra pleat at the rear, flounced above the hem, is of a tan and blue pattern. She carries a small tan velvet bag with draw strings.
MOULTON, the maid, is played by HANNAH LOUISE HOWELL, wearing a black dress, with frilled pinafore, and frilled cap, black stockings and shoes.
SUSAN PENHALIGON, who acted in Upstairs and Downstairs, plays the part of MISS PRISM, an ageing spinster, with wavy brown hair piled on top of her head, brown eyebrows, small mouth and nose, and plump cheeks and chin. She wears a red striped blouse with long cuffs, small cameo brooch on a dark pink bow at the neck.
Her waist is cinched in by a broad red leather belt, with a silver buckle. Her long brown skirt has two narrow rows of red her braid above the hem, and she wears white gloves. She wears a small straw hat when in the country.
CECILY CARDEW is played by LOUISE COULTHARD. Aged eighteen, her long straight reddish brown hair is worn in a centre parting, tied back by a white bow. Her wide face has well defined eyebrows, blue eyes, straight nose, and shapely mouth with pale pink lipstick.
Her long dress is of pale blue, with a light yellow stripe. The top half of the long sleeves is covered by transparent puffed gauze; their sides and cuffs have a dark blue trim with white lace; the bodice has an inset of yellow satin with small pale blue bows and blue braid narrow stripes at each side. The long wide skirt with an extra pleat at the back has one row of knotted gauze with black braid in the centre and two rows of black braid above the hem. Her shoes are brown. She carries a book with a grey cover, lace trimmed, forget-me- knots tucked in along with many bookmarks.
REV. CANNON CHASUBLE is played by GEOFF AYMER, a middle aged, stocky
Man, dark skinned with a broad face, bald head, wide nose, plump cheeks and wide mouth. He wears a straw hat with a black band, Knee length black coat with a stand –up collar, buttoned from neck to hem, gray trousers, white shirt, and carries a missal.
THE SET
The play comprises 3 acts.
Act 1 is set in Algernon’s flat on Half Moon Street, London at 4.45pm
Act 2 is set in the greenhouse of The Manor, Jack Worthing’s country house in Hertfordshire at 2pm the following day
Act 3 is set in the library at The Manor at 2.40pm the same day
The set and furniture evoke the Victorian era in which the play is set.
The drawing room in Algernon’s flat is created with panelled walls on 3 sides. There are no doorways but gaps create entrances and exits upstage on the left and right sides and through the back towards the right hand side. The panelled walls are dark brown wood, the lower half is solid and the upper half is glazed, the lower half has a very small square pattern. Above this there is border with a repeating swirl pattern. The upper half appears glazed with irregular curved and linear shaped panels, almost like those of a Rennie Mackintosh design, some of which are opaque.
Centre stage is a small coffee table behind which sits a small ornate wooden framed sofa with yellow velvet padding and a few striped cushions scattered on it. The coffee table sits on a rug and on top of it there are china cups and plates.
To the left, against the rear wall is a tall luscious green fern plant in a small brass pot.
Beside this there is a small wooden writing table with some pages, a small picture and a lamp
Against the left wall stands a small wooden locker with pale floral panels
In front of this there are two wooden dining chairs side-by-side facing out. Made of dark curved wood with some ornate detailing they have pale green leather seat.
Coffee set
Downstage from this is an ornate curved and padded wing chair
To the right of this there is a small occasional table on which rests a vase of pale blossoms and alongside this there is a green leather chaise longue
Each wall has a light with a fine glass lamp-shade attached
Three crystal tear-drop shaped lights hang on chains from above
The same panelled walls are used for the greenhouse at The Manor, however now they have pots of bushy hanging ivy suspended from them.
The three lights have been replaced with more ivy plants.
There are potted plants and bushes around the edge of the set. There is a potted rose-bush downstage left.
Upstage centre right there is a white metal swing chair with a fleur-de-lis design, it is padded with cream cushions with a fine navy stripe.
Downstage left there is small white metal round patio table with two chairs at it, there are books on the table.
Two similar chairs sit stage right.
To create the library at The Manor rows of books are now housed behind the upper panels of the walls and 3 chandeliers are suspended from above.
Centrally positioned against the rear wall is a small set of free-standing steps with ornate carving and a brass pole to hold on to. To the right is a large dresser with a glazed display unit.
Against the right wall is a small writing bureau, beside which sits a wooden carver chair
Centre is a rectangular coffee table on a rectangular rug around which sit 3 mismatched wingchairs
Upstage left is a large writing table with 4 drawers down each side and one in the middle
Downstage left is an octagonal occasional table with a carver chair beside it
All of the furniture is a highly polished dark walnut colour
Director: Alistair Whatley
Designer: Gabriella Slade
Lighting: Alan Valentine
Sound: Giles Thomas
Producer: Tom Hackney
Audio Description by Sara Duncan and Cara Smith/ Sightlines
These programme notes will be read ten minutes before the play begins.
Please be seated, with your headsets, if you wish to hear them.
