The Importance of Being… Earnest? heads to Lichfield
The Importance of Being… Earnest? is embarking on a UK tour and will play the Lichfield Garrick Theatre this month.
The show, described as a riotous twist on a much-loved classic will head to the stage on Thursday, June 27 with further dates on Friday, June 28 and Saturday, June 29.
The show opens to looming disaster; the actor playing Ernest in Oscar Wilde’s famed farce failing to arrive on cue.
In a monumental effort to ‘save the show’, a real audience member is quickly cast in the lead role.
However, the impetuous recasting sets off a hilarious chain of events that, one-by-one, renders the rest of the cast unable to continue their performances.
As more audience members are encouraged to step into the spotlight, led backstage for costume and make-up, impromptu auditions, the painting of portraits, the chanting of mantras; doing whatever’s needed to help the show go on, an absurd controlled madness ensues – until it feels as if there are almost as many audience members in the cast as there are in the audience.
A spokesperson for the show said: "This is a comedic masterpiece of meticulous logistics, meritoriously involved audiences, masterful stage management and celebrity cameos.
"The Importance of Being... Earnest? Is an exciting and hilarious experience both to watch and be part of as the innovative format creates an unexpected new experience every night. It’s a show for anyone who has enjoyed the high-jinx of The Play That Goes Wrong and Austentatious."
Developed alongside the company’s flagship open-rehearsal initiative, where audiences are invited into the rehearsal room to participate in the creative process, the show is written by Josh King, Simon Paris and Say It Again, Sorry?, and is directed by Simon Paris.
The company’s vision is for the public to recover ownership over their own creative power and contribute to the future of theatre as active participants, collaborators, and decision-makers. Their aim is to connect people to their inner artist and inspire creative expression in everybody.
Tickets are available at lichfieldgarrick.com/whats-on/comedy/the-importance-of-being-earnest/3284
