'Importance' Streaming This Thursday & Friday

The cast of Whitehall High School's production of the Importance of Being Earnest is wrapping up dress rehearsals and is excited to present their production to the community, via streaming, on April 8th and 9th.

"This play is a classic show, well-known in the theater world. I presented two shows to the kids at tryouts & they read parts for each show. After, the group voted to do The Importance of Being Earnest," said Whitehall Drama Coach Marci Whitehurst. She noted that, since the show is public domain, it also gave them flexibility to televise and stream the production, due to COVID-19 restrictions.

The cast is only allotted four audience members per showing, so the dynamic of this play was a bit different than usual. This affected everyone differently in how they took on their roles.

Sophomore Emily Smith, who play Gwendolyn Fairfax, noted that since there isn't as much live laughter, the need to pause after delivering a humorous line is no longer there.

"That took a little getting used to," Smith said.

However, for Levi Whitehurst, a freshman playing Algernon Moncrieff, he found enjoyment in not having to play off the laughs, as he had in previous plays.

"This is a satire type of humor, a lot of people don't realize the irony of what is being said until later," he explained, adding that the satire combined with the old-fashioned way of speaking took time to embrace.

"Once you get past the weirdness of it all, you can really BE the character. You get to forget who you are, be someone else for a while. That's the beauty of it," Whitehurst said. Whitehurst explained that in his daily life he is fairly quiet and reserved, but his character is loud and obnoxious, making him a fun persona to take on.

All of the cast members feel a bit of a kindred spirit with their characters in one way or another. Marissa Ellison, a junior who plays Cecily Cardew, enjoyed learning the new phrasing of the old-fashioned speaking, and especially enjoys the argument scene between herself and Smith's character.

"It's just hectic, it's fun," Ellison said with a grin.

Kyra Oliverson, a sophomore playing governess Letitia Prism enjoyed the fact that her own mother is a teacher, and she got to experience a bit of that dynamic.

"It's all about becoming a completely different person - leaving the chaos of life for an hour or two," Oliverson said.

Smith said she enjoys her character's willingness to jump in, and how while she is always very upfront, she also always thinks she's in the right.

Wyatt Biggers, a senior portraying John 'Jack' Worthing, loves his character's passion and how he gets angry so easily.

"I'm not that passionate in real life, but I really like that he is," Biggers said. He added, agreeing with Whitehurst, that the satirical humor of the play takes a few times to really get it, but it is worth it when you do.

Mia Ballard, a sophomore, laughed when asked if she identified with her character's mannerisms.

"Lady Bracknell is shrieky! She doesn't have hard time being expressive - but there's not a lot of depth to her - she likes money and social status, that's about it!"

Lita Wetherelt, a sophomore portraying a maid, loves that her character has the important charge of announcing Lady Bracknel and other visitors.

The Importance of Being Earnest will be streamed on Whitehall's Low Power TV station, as well as http://www.streamingaudiosolutions.com on April 8th and 9th. The Whitehall Drama Department invites you to turn in, forget your troubles for an hour or so, and enjoy

Oscar Wilde's play about fake and mistaken identities, and the chaos which ensues when two men find themselves face-to-face and have to explain to their loved ones who they really are!