The Importance of Being Earnest by Oscar Wilde

By: Ben Le, Danh Nguyen, Katelynn Tran, Elaine Tran (Group 7)

THEA 1331: Jon EggingTA: Park Fetch

The Director

Benjamin Le

Choose the script

Be involved in casting

Determine the “spine” of the play

Shape the “spine” and implement the theme of

the play

Determine the style that compliments the spine

Develop a directorial concept for the play

Objectives of the Director

John Worthing: Hugh Laurie

Laurie is known for his roles in many British comedy’s and sketches, most notably his role in “A Bit of Fry and Laurie.” His comedic timing and dry wit can bring out the satire in “The Importance of Being Earnest.”

Algernon Moncrieff: Sacha Baron Cohen Cohen has made a living on satirizing

different leaders and peoples around the world e.g. “Borat” and “Ali G.” His wit will also serve to enahance Oscar Wilde’s satire and compliment Laurie’s main role.

The Cast

Gwendolen Fairfax: Anne

Hathaway An Academy-Award winning actress with a

background in theatre.

Cecily Cardew: Amanda Seyfried Seyfried is a popular actress who has

played similar characters in “Les Miserables” and “Sweeney Todd”

Mr. Chasuble: Ian McKellen Another character with a background in

theatre who can provide a character who contrast to the rest.

The Cast (cont.)

Lady Bracknell: Meryl Streep

Miss Prism: Maggie Smith

Merriman: Alan Rickman

Lane: Michael Caine

The Cast (cont.)

The “spine” is the main action that

motivates the play. The director must decide on the spine to revolve the play around.

The overwhelming satire of upper class reputation and the constant deception in the play dictates that the spine must be the maintaining of one’s status or reputation. Most actions taken by the play’s characters

are motivated by maintaining their reputation whether it be talking about trivialities or lying to keep up appearances.

The “Spine” of the Play

A play’s style is “the manner in which the spine is

to be articulated.” The style must be appropriate and consistent. The style is a way for the director to leave his/her

imprint on the production. The style of expressionism fits Oscar Wilde’s “The

Importance of Being Earnest” best. Through the conversations in the play, Wilde gives outward

expression to inner feelings; this is the exact definition of an expressionistic style.

This style, in which Wilde’s opinions and satire are effectively brought out, will articulate the play’s spine most effectively.

The Style of the Play

The time period in which the play may take place can

range from Elizabethan to modern times. The idea of the upper class and their behaviors stand true for most time periods.

A centralizing image of the play may be a handbag. Handbags are common to the upper class and it is also where the play’s protagonist is found as an infant.

The concept should stay as true to Wilde’s original script and idea as possible. It satirizes the upper class effectively and is still relevant today with the exception of some of the trivialities that characters ramble on about.

Directorial Concept

Set Design

Danh Nguyen

Goals Create a setting on stage for performers Be able to show the mood of the play through the set

For relaxed mood we would use easy and simple sets and uplifting music

For rigid and proper mood we would use complex sets and slow classical music

Help differentiate between realistic and non realistic location of the set

Have an open mindset, design concept in your mind to collaborate with the products and directors.

Be able to establish the setting and time period of the play Also be able to provide a visual metaphor of the set

An example from this play with the cigarette case

Set Designer

The setting is in the afternoon at

Algernon’s flat in Half-Moon St. in London. The year is 1895.

The set would fill his apartment with elegant things and designer furniture to fit the time period and Algernon’s class.

You would have a large chandelier hanging in the middle of the room to show how rich he is.

Visual metaphor – is the Cigarette case. It has the words “dear Uncle Jack” written on it. To tie to the theme about being Earnest.

Act 1

The setting was still at

Algernon’s apartment, but this time it was in a different room. As Lady Bracknell and Gwendolen arrive to his house, they went to the living room.

There would be fancy sofas, and a fancy corner for when “Ernest” and Gwendolen sit and talk about their love.

Act 1 (cont.)

The setting is Jack’s manor house.

A house with a magnificent garden, with a background like a Victorian style, very elegant

Lots of roses and plants to show how big the garden is

The Act would start with Miss Prism trying to teach Cecily German while she is watering the roses in the garden.

Act 2

The second set would still

be outside in the garden but this time it is near the front door.

Jack and Algernon are caught lying, when Jack says Earnest has died and that the cigarette case would be visible on stage

The set would then move to inside the house as they walk into the house while arguing.

Act 2(Cont.)

The setting is still Jack’s Manor

House As Jack and Algernon are sitting

and talking in the garden. They were confronted by Cecily and Gwendolen

The two has to try and make up excuses to explain why they lied about their names

The Cigarette case is represented as Jack.

After trying to come up with the excuses the men decided to just rename themselves

Act 3

The set is still Jack’s Manor House

garden. Now Dr. Chasuble and Miss Prism

enter the set Then it turns out that Miss Prism was

the one to leave Jack in a handbag as an infant.

Everyone then realized what the situation is, now everyone is happy for Jack to marry Gwendolen and Algernon to marry Cecily.

Act 3 (cont.)

Light Design

Elaine Tran

Purposes:

• Highlight the stage’s composition

• Aids in creation of mood

• Manipulate the focal point of the audience’s

view

• Create the rhythm of movement

Light Design

The lighting in throughout the play will be bright and

colorful to accentuate the upper class wealth

common to many characters in the play. The lighting

will rarely ever be very dark or menacing.

This will also help to create a much lighter mood

especially in comparison to darker plays e.g.

Hamlet. This is because “The Importance of Being Earnest” is a satire that

incorporates comedy to project its message.

Rhythm

Floodlights will shine throughout the stage

to present to the audience that the time is

afternoon.

Spotlight will focus on Jack as it is revealed

that he lied about his identity to Algernon.

Intensify the mood of love and excitement

as Jack proposes to Gwendolen by shining

two pink spotlights on them both.

Act I

I will keep the floodlight intensity at a

medium, but not focus it on the characters. This way the audience can tell that it is still afternoon.

Black spotlight shines on Algernon and slowly dims to hint a little foreshadowing as the curtains drop and Act ends.

Act I (cont.)

I will use a high intensity of floodlights

throughout this act since the setting is

outside Jack’s Manor House garden

and enhance the vivid roses.

To create a sense of love mood, I will

again use two pink spotlights or a pink

backdrop on Algernon and Cecily as

he proposes to her.

Act II

When Jack and Algernon get

caught lying to Cecily and

Gwendolen about being Ernest

Worthing I will shine two red

spotlights on the men.

Slowly dim lights as the act ends

with Jack raging at Algernon

finishing up his muffin and tea.

Act II (cont.)

Create bright floodlights as the scene

starts up.

I will increase the intensity of the

spotlights on Jack and Algernon as they

get interrogated by Cecily and Gwendolen.

When Lady Bracknell enters, spotlight will

shine on her and gradually turn red when

she calls out Miss Prism.

Act III

Shift the spotlight towards Miss Prism as she is

being interrogated by Jack and Lady Bracknell. I will then take the spotlight off Lady Prism and

lighten up the stage with yellow floodlights to create a happy mood.

As the Act finishes up with everybody embracing one another, I will slowly die the lights down and shut them off for the final curtain call.

Act III (cont.)

Costume Designer

Katelynn Tran

Help establish the style of the play

Indicate time and setting of the play.

Indicate the characters’ roles, class, and personalities.

Show relationships among characters

Incorporate, through symbolism, the themes of the play

Meet the needs of individual performers in terms of

freedom of movement and costume changes.

Be consistent with the productions a whole, especially

other visual elements.

Costume Designer Goals

Characters will be seen with Victorian period clothing

as the play takes place in the 1890s Upper class men wore tailored suits with cravats

(modern tailored neckties) Top hats and gloves were normally worn when

outdoors Upper class women wore ballroom dresses with the

skirts being the widest during this time period Some women also wore tailored suits High collars were popular as well Hats were enormous with feather or flower details

Costume Design

John Worthing, J.P. (also known as Jack)

Dressed casual with a bit of formality for his intended proposal to his lover, Gwendolen

Algernon Moncrieff Dressed presentable and fashionable way as he’s

expecting company in his home (Act I) Gwendolen Fairfax

Young in age, comes with Lady Bracknell for tea so will be dressed fancy and resembling youth, remains this way throughout the play

Costume DesignMajor Roles

Jack Worthing Algernon Moncrieff

Gwendolen

Costume DesignMajor Roles

Cecily Cardew

Not as wealthy as Gwendolen, but younger and should be dressed a little more casual but still trying to achieve elegance when she is presented watering the plants outside the Manor House

Lady Bracknell Asked by Algernon to come by for afternoon tea, should be

dressed elegantly because of the way she speaks highly of herself and continues to dress that way throughout the play

Miss Prism Not wealthy like Lady Bracknell, is an educator and is not as

proper or formal as the upper class women. She is seen wearing more casual Victorian clothing without the immense details that Lady Bracknell may have on her attire.

Costume DesignMajor Roles

Cecily Cardew Lady Bracknell Miss Prism

Costume DesignMajor Roles

Rev. Canon Chausable

He is a reverend and is described as “typical” and not hold a high status. He is seen dressed in a black gown and a bible by his side.

Merriman (Butler) Butlers held a higher status during the Victorian

period and were seen with a more open blazer revealing that he only works inside

Lane (Manservant) Lane is seen wearing a closed blazer that is less

elegant than that of Merriman’s to show that his job requires going outside and more work is required

Costume DesignMinor Roles

Costume DesignMinor Roles

Rev. Chausable MerrimanLane