The Importance of Being Earnest

Oscar Wilde

Director: Ryan Mathews

Lights: John Juarez

Set Design: Reethika Kalidindi

Costume Design: Shannon Kemp

Collaboration Group 62

The Importance of Being Earnest

Oscar Wilde

The Directors Notes

Director: Ryan Mathews

Choosing The Script – Initial Thoughts

!  When choosing the script from the choices that were provided, me and my team thought about what we could do, that our audience could not only relate to, but leave them feeling satisfied. ! Going by the old notion that Comedy is the best form of medicine we decided to choose Oscar Wilde’s “The Importance of Earnest”.

! First performed February 14, 1895 at St. James Theatre in London, “The Importance of Earnest” is a satirical Victorian style melodrama which underneath the witty comedic lines, takes a look at ones often self-righteous hypocrisy.

Our Approach on a Classic – Modernism

! When thinking about how we should approach this classic, we wanted to do something different than what has already been done before. Former productions of this play are set in a old-style Victorian era, our main goal was to help our audience be able to relate and understand the play in the best way possible. – That is by adapting the play and having a more modern setting, with modern characters and people, examples: 2000’s instead of the 1800’s, a penthouse instead of a Victorian styled mansion, ect. These were ways we wanted to appeal to the audience based on the modern times.

Choice for Modern Appeal – Style of the Script/Directorial Concept

! An example of Algernon Moncrieff’s flat in Act 1 for a more modern approach.

! Working with the set designer and costume designer we came up with a modern approach for each scene and setting in the play, along with the different styles of clothing our actors would be portraying their roles in.

Casting The Roles

! As a director its really important to cast people you feel like would fit the persona and actions of the characters you would like to portray. Not only that but you want to cast people that you feel like could relate to the characters their self, and doing so immerse their self completely in it. By doing this you achieve a better production, a more realistic production, and better audience appeal; because now what you have is acting that the audience can believe in, emotions that are real, things that the average person can now relate to. With that here are the nine people I have casted in our production for each role.

The Actors

!  Mark Wahlberg as John (Jack/Ernest) Worthing, J.P.

!  James Franco as Algernon Moncrieff. Your typical comedic/witty, rich bachelor.

Casting The Roles

The Actors

! Kate Winslet as the elegant/highly fashionable Gwendolyn Fairfax.

! Mila Kunis as the charming but somewhat wicked, Cecily Cardew.

! Meryl Streep as the cunning/authoritative Lady Bracknell.

Casting The Roles

The Actors

! Maggie Smith as Cecily’s governess, Miss Prism.

! James Faulkner as Rev. Canon Chasuble, D.D.

Casting The Roles

The Actors

! Aidan Gillen as Merriman, the butler at Jack’s estate in the country.

! Michael Caine as Algernon’s manservant known as Lane in Act 1.

The Spine of the Script !  When reading this script and planning out how I would like to direct it, I tried to think about an overall theme or the “Spine of the Script” the message that was being brought out and questioned in this play.

! This play questions a lot of things of what we know/think about concerning marriage; debating whether its pleasant or unpleasant, but I would say the major spine/theme of the play is about the constraints of morality, and the hypocrisy of characters such as Jack, Gwendolyn, Dr. Chausable.

! The irony is that the spine of the play is in the title itself, “The Importance of Being Earnest”. Earnestness is the quality of being both serious and sincere which is the exactly what the play is ridiculing. Ex: Ridiculing the Victorian idea of morality.

Lighting

The Light Design

Lights: John Juarez

! The scene: Morning-room in Algernon’s “flat” in Half-Moon Street. The room is luxuriously and artistically furnished. The sound of a piano is heard in the adjoining room.

! The indoor setting and lavishness of the room call for a well lit space

! Contrast caused by the lighting should not be jarring; the situation is being set up and the lights should embrace an even pace

Act I

Act I The main focus should be to bring out even

visibility to the stage

!  The scene: Garden at the Manor House. A flight of grey stone steps leads up to the house. The garden, an old-fashioned one, full of roses, alluding to the history of the play. Time of year, July. Basket chairs, and a table covered with books, are set under a large yew-tree.

!  Because the scene is outside, an illusion of sunlight should be created

!  The rhythm of the higher intensity lights on the characters should be sped up to go along with the rising action and building tension of the story

Act II

Act II

To enhance the depth and aid in the forming of an outside world, the tree could be used to create contrast and

make everything more realistic

Act III

! The scene: Morning-room at the Manor House.

! Gwendolen and Cecily are at the window, looking out into the garden.

! Back indoors, things are coming to a close

! The stage is being set for a twist of fate and the resolution of the story

! The rhythm and intensity of the surrounding lighting should be a bit more easy going than previously to match the mood

Act III

! There should be more contrast among the lights, with more focus on the characters

! For some added depth, a light glow coming from behind the window

Set Design

Set Design

Set Design: Reethika Kalidindi

! The scene:

Act I

Act I

! Place holder.

Act I

! Place holder.

Costuming

Costume Design

Costuming: Shannon Kemp

! The setting is upscale New York, mid-2000s. The fashion is iconic and classy, but eclectic.

! The play is refreshed by a modernistic touch, pulling the characters into the present.

Jack Worthing Due to his wealth, Jack will be in tailored suits of finer quality.

To depict Jack’s more serious tendencies, he will be costumed in dark colors.

When in his country persona of Jack, he will wear fine but muted

clothing.

As “Ernest”, he will sport accents of color that reflect his “brother’s” eccentric

nature.

Algernon Moncrieff Algy’s laissez faire attitude is portrayed

vibrantly in his garb.

Bright, rich colors show off Algernon’s flamboyant personality and penchant for the extravagant.

As “Ernest”, Algernon would be lighter in color than Jack’s portrayal of the “problem brother”, but

relatively monochromatic compared to his average day clothes.

This difference allows the audience to tell two very similar characters apart throughout the play.

Gwendolen Fairfax Gwendolen’s wardrobe belies her sharp wit and flirtatious nature.

Her outfits would be modest and classic, not forgoing her femininity but remaining practical.

Cecily Cardew Cecily’s wardrobe is accented by lace and

sheer fabrics, alluding to an air of purity and imagination.

Lady Bracknell The “height of fashion”, Lady Bracknell would

sport elegant dress with exaggerated accessories, such as hats and handbags.

Miss Prism Miss Prism being an older woman and Cecily’s teacher, I put her in modest, clean clothing. A

lot of monochromatic tones and straight lines to bring to mind the quintessential “school teacher” while preserving the proper air she exudes and making her modern.

! Being a “rector” in the original play, Dr. Chasuble is very basically clothed in a black robe and white collar of the church.

! In our version of the play, he will be in a more modern suit jacket outfit, but still wear the traditional white collar to denote his position.

Dr. Chasuble

The Butlers

Lane - Algernon’s Butler Merriman- Jack’s Butler

Being minor characters, but still having speaking lines, both butlers will have a tad more flair in their outfits than the rest of the household attendants.

! Being employed by Algy, Lane will bear more colorful touches that reflect his master’s

nature, as well as allude to his own wit.

! Under Jack’s employment, Merriman will be in quite the traditional butler

attire.