Oscar Wilde's Wittiest play is given new life in this 2023 reimagining. Gone is Algernon the Aristocratic Playboy, Here is Algy The Nonbinary, Alternative Badboi. Complete with Cell Phones and Modern Romance. This Timeless Trivial Tale and its zany characters are ready to live and breathe again. Earnest! A Trivial Comedy for Serious people. By Oscar Wilde Adaptation by Connor J-L Casady (aka CC) Performed at Hooker Dunham Theater and Gallery Cast and Crew: Jack Worthing, J.P. - Nicole Caron Algernon Moncrieff - Elliot Vigue Gwendolen Fairfax - Olivia McNeely Cecily Cardew - Eden Gorst Lady Augusta Bracknell - Geof Dolman Professor Prism - Aubrey Clowndinst Rev. Caroline Chasuble, D.D. - Katy Peterson Moulton Merriman/Lane - Patrick Caron Director: CC Assistant/Movement Director: Aubery Clinedinst When Oscar Wilde wrote the importance of being earnest. He didn't know how loved and widely performed it would be. In fact the trial that would see him jailed and later exiled to france. Forced the plays initial west end run to close. He spent the last few years of his life trying to get it published. Due to his conviction of homosexual behavior he was an anathema to theater. Publishers one by one refused. Finely in 1898 just before Wildes death, Leo Smithers agreed to publish. The first edition wouldn't come out until the next year after Wilde had passed away. The original publication went uncredited, denoting instead "by the author of Lady Windermere's Fan". Since its original run it has been revived at least 20 times in professional theaters in the uk and countless thousands of times by professional and amateur theaters around the world. This production is proud to be another revival. This play's general popularity, public domain status, and small cast can often lead to over saturation in the market. Much in the same way that you can always find a local midsummers night, hamlet, or romeo and Juliet performance to watch near you. It is just as likely that you will see this play crop up within a short drive. With her 20+years of theater experience our director CC has performed in many versions of Earnest. By and large she has found that most productions perform the play as a period piece. As of yet attempts to modernize the productions often end up stripping the show of its life and humor. CC has taken inspiration from the Baz Luhrmann 1996 film version of Romeo and Juliet. While the Text has been edited some for time and clarity. The material and language of this production of Earnest largely remains the same But with a twist. Everything takes place in the year 2023. Some of the characters communicate via text message. One of the butlers has been transformed into a digital home assistant. Gone is the aristocracy. It has been replaced by Lady Bracknell as the CEO of a fortune 500 company, her adopted daughter a Regina George mean girl. Algernon is a non-binary middle class black sheep who has just received some interesting 23 and me results. Cecily is a unique young person who is figuring out Life while authoring erotic friend fiction. Professor Prism, who was once a wild party person, has begrudgingly gone sober and dedicated their life to education. Caroline Chasuble rev. Is a priest who, having not experienced any of the pleasures of the flesh finds herself in desperate need. Jack/Johanna is still as long suffering as ever and just wants to end all of the lies and settle down with Gwendolen. With Merriman the butler dragged along kicking and screaming at butter knifepoint. This aggressively modern adaptation is one you don't want to miss.

Algernon: (Picks up envelope and scans it with phone) LANE: (do Doot) Would you like me to read your “Chromosome and You” results? (Doot)Algernon: Absolutely!LANE: (Do Doot) One moment… Processing your results… You are White. 77.3% British and Irish, and 11% French and German. You have trace genetics from West Africa, the Levantine coast, and the Americas. Would you like to hear who your closest relatives are? (Doot)Algernon: Sure, why not!LANE: (Do Doot) According to “Chromosome and You” That will Be an additional 4 payments of $19.99. Do you wish to continue? (Doot)Algernon: (deep sigh) I'm probably going to regret this. Or at the very least my funds will. Yes, let here them. LANE: (Do Doot) Processing your Payment… Your available family tree is as follows… Most of the entries have been provided by user LadyB. Your mother was Susan Moncrieff Now deceased. Your Maiden Aunt Lady Augusta Bracknell, Her Husband Lord Gerald Bracknell, their adopted Daughter Gwendolen Fairfax. There is One additional Entry from User JoMamma1994. Your Sister Joanna Worthing. (Doot)Algernon: (Perks Up) I'm Sorry what was that last entry. LANE: (Do Doot) You have a genetic Sister named Joanna Worthing. There is no one able to contact at this time no Users have accessed this portal in the last 5 years. (Doot)Algernon: (runs out of the room grabs the wallet cackles at it briefly back onstage tosses it through the door and excitedly shuts it. They then return to their game Shredding to whatever song comes up next on the playlist.)Algernon. Did you hear what I was playing, Lane?Lane. [Do Doot Sound] I didn't think it polite to listen, sir. [Doot]Algernon. I'm sorry for that, for your sake. I don't play accurately—anyone can play accurately—but I play with wonderful expressions. As far as the piano is concerned, sentiment is my forte. I keep science for Life.Lane. [Do Doot Sound] Okay. [Doot]Algernon. And, speaking of the science of Life, have you got the cucumber sandwiches cut for Lady Bracknell?Lane. [Do Doot Sound] Yes. [Doot, doorbell rings ‘delivery man' Hands them on a salver.]Algernon. [Inspects them, tips, closes the door, takes two, and sits down on the sofa.] Oh! . . . by the way, Lane, I see from your book that on Thursday night, when Lord Shoreman and Mr. Worthing were dining with me, eight bottles of champagne were entered as having been consumed.Lane. [Do Doot Sound] Yes, sir; eight bottles and a pint.[Doot]Algernon. Why is it that? I ask merely for information.Lane. [Do Doot Sound] According to the Web, it is attributed to the superior quality of the wine. A quote from Oscar Wilde. “I have often observed that in married households the champagne is rarely of a first-rate brand.”Algernon. Good heavens! Is marriage so demoralising as that?Lane. [Do Doyot Sound] I believe it is a very pleasant state. I have had no experience of it myself. [Doot]Algernon. Very natural, I am sure. That will do, Lane, thank you. [Algernon Begins playing their game again]Jack. [Kramers in no knocking or anything and, best friend style, gently smacks Algernon on the side of their head to throw off their game.]Algernon. [should in feeling translate roughly to “F*** You dude! Why are you in my house?” in the way one says such a thing to their best friend] How are you, my dear Ernest? What brings you up to town?Jack. Oh, pleasure, pleasure! What else should bring one anywhere? Eating as usual, I see, Algy!Algernon. [Stiffly.] I believe it is customary in good society to take some slight refreshment at five o'clock. Where have you been since last Thursday?Jack. [Sitting down on the sofa.] In the country.Algernon. What on earth do you do there?Jack. When one is in town one amuses oneself. When one is in the country one amuses other people. It is excessively boring.Algernon. And who are the people you amuse?Jack. [Airily.] Oh, neighbors, neighbors.Algernon. Got nice neighbors in your part of Shropshire?Jack. Eh… Why all these cups? Why cucumber sandwiches? Who is coming to tea?Algernon. Oh! merely Aunt Augusta and Gwendolen.Jack. How perfectly delightful!Algernon. Yes, that is all very well; but I am afraid Aunt Augusta won't quite approve of your being here.Jack. May I ask why?Algernon. My dear fellow, the way you flirt with Gwendolen is perfectly disgraceful. It is almost as bad as the way Gwendolen flirts with you.Jack. I am in love with Gwendolen. I have come up to town expressly to propose to her.Algernon. I thought you had come up for pleasure? . . . I call that business.Jack. How utterly unromantic you are!Algernon. I really don't see anything romantic in proposing. It is very romantic to be in love. But there is nothing romantic about a definite proposal. Why, one may be accepted. One usually is, I believe. Then the excitement is all over. The very essence of romance is uncertainty. If ever I get married, I'll certainly try to forget the fact.Jack. I have no doubt about that, dear Algy. The Divorce Court was specially invented for people whose memories are so curiously constituted.Algernon. Oh! there is no use speculating on that subject. Divorces are made in Heaven—[Jack puts out his hand to take a sandwich. Algernon at once interferes.] Please don't touch the cucumber sandwiches. They are ordered specially for Aunt Augusta. [Takes one and eats it.]Jack. Well, you have been eating them all the time.Algernon. That is quite a different matter. She is my aunt. [Takes plate from below.] Have some bread and butter. The bread and butter is for Gwendolen. She is devoted to bread and butter.Jack. [Advancing to table and helping himself.] And very good bread and butter it is too.Algernon. You need not eat as if you were going to eat it all. You behave as if you were married to her already. You are not married to her already, and I don't think you ever will be.Jack. Why on earth do you say that?Algernon. Well, in the first place girls never marry the folk they flirt with. They don't think it right.Jack. Oh, that is nonsense!Algernon. It isn't. It is a great truth. In the second place, I don't give my consent.Jack. Your consent!Algernon. My dear… fellow, Gwendolen is my first cousin. And before I allow you to marry her, you will have to clear up the whole question of Cecily. Jack. Cecily! What on earth do you mean? What do you mean, Algy, by Cecily! I don't know anyone of the name of Cecily.Algernon. Lane [Do Doot Sound] Where did I place the cigarette case Mr. Worthing left in the smoking-room the last time he dined here.Lane. On the bookshelf, sir. [Doot, Algernon goes to bookshelf and picks up wallet]Jack. Do you mean to say you have had my cigarette case all this time? I wish to goodness you had let me know. I have been writing frantic letters to Scotland Yard about it. I was very nearly offering a large reward.Algernon. Well, I wish you would offer one. I happen to be more than usually hard up.Jack. There is no good offering a large reward now that the thing is found.Algernon. I think that is rather mean of you, Ernest, I must say. However, it makes no matter, for, now that I look at the inscription inside, I find that the thing isn't yours after all.Jack. Of course it's mine. [Moving to him.] You have seen me with it a hundred times, and you have no right whatsoever to read what is written inside. It is a very ungentlemanly thing to read a private cigarette case. I simply want it back.Algernon. Yes; but this isn't your cigarette case. This cigarette case is a present from someone of the name of Cecily, and you said you didn't know any one of that name.Jack. Well, if you want to know, Cecily happens to be my aunt.Algernon. Your aunt!Jack. Yes. Charming old lady she is, too. Lives at Tunbridge Wells. Just give it back to me, Algy.Algernon. [Retreating to back of sofa.] But why do they call themself little Cecily if they are your aunt who lives at Tunbridge Wells? [Reading.] ‘From little Cecily with their fondest love.'Jack. [Moving to sofa and kneeling upon it.] My dear fellow, what on earth is there in that? Some aunts are tall, some aunts are not tall. That is a matter that surely an aunt may be allowed to decide for herself. For Heaven's sake give me back my cigarette case. [Follows Algernon round the room.]Algernon. Yes. But why does your aunt call you their Aunt? ‘From little Cecily, with their fondest love to their dear Auntie Jack.' There is no objection, I admit, to an aunt being a small aunt, but why an aunt, no matter what their size may be, should call their own… nephew their Aunt, I can't quite make out. Besides, your name isn't Jack at all; it is Ernest.Jack. It isn't Ernest; it's Jack.Algernon. You have always told me it was Ernest. I have introduced you to everyone as Ernest. You answer to the name of Ernest. You look as if your name was Ernest. You are the most earnest-looking person I ever saw in my life. It is perfectly absurd your saying that your name isn't Ernest. [looks at phone pulls up facebook profile] ‘Mr. Ernest Worthing, B. 4, The Albany.'Jack. Well, my name is Ernest in town and Jack in the country, and the cigarette case was given to me in the country.Algernon. Yes, but that does not account for the fact that your small Aunt Cecily, who lives at Tunbridge Wells, calls you their dear Auntie. You had much better have the thing out at once. I may mention that I have always suspected you of being a confirmed and secret Bunburyist; and I am quite sure of it now.Jack. Bunburyist? What on earth do you mean by a Bunburyist?Algernon. I'll reveal to you the meaning of that incomparable expression as soon as you are kind enough to inform me why you are Ernest in town and Jack in the country.Jack. Well, produce my cigarette case first.Algernon. [childishly licks then Hands over wallet] Jack. The fact is this, Old Mr. Thomas Cardew, who adopted me when I was a little boy, made me in his will guardian to his grand-child, Cecily Cardew. Cecily, who addresses me as their aunt from motives of respect that you could not possibly appreciate, lives at my place in the country under the charge of Their admirable tutor, professor Prism.Algernon. Where is that place in the country, by the way?Jack. That is nothing to you. You are not going to be invited . . . I may tell you candidly that the place is not in Shropshire.Algernon. I suspected that, go on. Why are you Ernest in town and Jack in the country?Jack. My dear Algy, When one is placed in the position of guardian, one has to adopt a very high moral tone on all subjects. It's one's duty to do so. And as a high moral tone can hardly be said to conduce very much to either one's health or one's happiness, in order to get up to town I have always pretended to have a younger brother of the name of Ernest, who lives in the Albany, and gets into the most dreadful scrapes. That, my dear Algy, is the whole truth pure and simple.Algernon. The truth is rarely pure and never simple. I was quite right in saying you were a Bunburyist. You are one of the most advanced Bunburyists I know.Jack. What on earth do you mean?Algernon. You have