October 29, 2012
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Play Photoblog
Here are some more photos of "The Importance of Being Earnest" as performed by the Pinnacle Playhouse. They were taken during a rehearsal so hair, make-up, costumes, sets, and props are not always complete... but it's the next best thing to seeing the show! (photographs by Pinchin Design Group, summary provided by me)
ACT ONE
There once were two friends, Jack and Algernon, who were always talking nonsense.
Jack was madly in love with Algy's cousin Gwendolen. In order to go to London to see her,
Jack made up a brother named "Ernest", whom he pretends to be while in Town.Gwendolen's mother, Lady B, does not approve of Jack because he was a foundling
--he was found in a railway station-- and has no idea who his parents are.So Jack and Gwendolen secretly become engaged.
Once Algy learns of Jack's secret identity, he decides to go to Jack's country house while his friend is still in Town...
Even though Jack has decided to kill his imaginary brother as it was getting too hard to lead a double-life.ACT TWO
Cecily is Jack's ward, and the reason why he needs to escape to the city to have fun.
He cannot behave irresponsibly when he has a young girl to raise to be a proper lady!This eighteen-year-old dreams of being rescued by a knight in shining armour,
and is also madly in love with Jack's brother Ernest whom she's heard so much about.Instead, all Cecily got was a governess trying to teach her German, geography, and political science...
...though Cecily often wrote in her diary, rather than paying attention to her lessons.
Cecily also attempts a bit of matchmaking, as she knows Miss Prism is in love with Reverend Chasuble.
Then Algy arrives in the country, but he calls himself "Ernest".
It is love at first sight for Cecily and Algernon.Jack returns from the city early with the news that his brother Ernest is dead,
and is quite surprised to find his brother very much alive in the form of his friend Algy.While the two men are sorting out their differences, Gwendolen arrives with the intention of eloping with Jack.
She ends up having tea with Cecily, whom she knew nothing about.They would have become great friends if it wasn't for the fact they discovered they were both engaged to Ernest!
ACT THREE
When Jack and Algy come outside the girls realize they are not engaged to the same man, but to a man who doesn't exist.
Gwen and Cecily join forces, and both the gentlemen who are no longer called "Ernest" have to do much pleading to gain forgiveness.Once the two couples have reconciled their differences,
Lady B arrives with the intend of stopping the marriage of Jack and Gwendolen.Then she finds out Algy has gotten himself engaged to Jack's ward, Cecily...
...And she doesn't approve of that either! At least until she finds out Cecily stands to inherit a lot of money, that is.
The only problem now is that Jack refuses to allow Cecily to marry
--she doesn't come of age for another 10+ years-- unless Lady B approves of his marriage to Gwendolen.
But Lady B refuses to allow the marriage until Jack finds out who his parents are.Reverend Chasuble and Miss Prism arrive in all this confusion, and it is discovered
that Miss Prism used to be the governess for Lady B's sister... The one who misplaced a baby!
Miss Prism tells of how she accidentally left the baby in a railway station, and Jack realizes he is that baby.It turns out Jack really is Algernon's older brother, leaving Lady B no choice
but to approve of Jack's engagement with her daughter.But Gwendolen refuses to marry anyone by a name other than Ernest,
so it is important to figure out what name Jack was actually baptized with.
Lady B only remembers that Jack was named after his father,
so Jack grabs his copy of the military directory... and says he was named "Ernest John"!So they all live happily ever after: Jack and Gwendolen, Reverend Chasuble and Miss Prism, Algernon and Cecily.
Even the servants found romance!SUMR
Comments (2)
It was like being there!
I only wish I really was...
Loved the pictures & the story line that went with it!
I love all the photos showing the play! almost as good as watching it.
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