News

Oscar Wilde classic set at Hendersonville Little Theatre

By , Published: June 13, 2013

Hendersonville Little Theatre will present Oscar Wilde's "The Importance of Being Earnest" through June 30 at the theater at 201 S. Washington St. The show opens Friday.

Wilde's "trivial comedy for serious people" was first performed in 1895 and has continued to amuse audiences to this day. With wit and clever dialogue, Wilde skewers the Victorian society of his day. Jack Worthing is a young man-about-town in love with Gwendolyn, whose extremely proper mother refuses to allow their marriage when she learns of Jack's suspect parentage.

Algernon Montcrieff, Jack's good friend, discovers that Jack has a dual identity, one for the city and one for the country, when he wants to evade onerous social obligations. Visiting Jack's country home and pretending to be Jack's profligate brother, Algernon meets Cecily, Jack's ward, and promptly falls in love. How all this romance works itself out is the focus of this extravagant farce.
Several Hendersonville Little Theater newcomers join with veteran favorites in the cast. Dylan Henley as Algernon and Luke Arrington as Jack are making their HLT debuts, as are Margaret Pennell (Lady Bracknell) and Caroline Schultz (Gwendolyn). This production may be the first time local audiences have seen these actors, but they have loads of experience among them.
Maria Morava, recently seen as HLT's Juliet, will be Cecily. Bob Reece and Martha Hogenboom , both of "Murderers" renown, will be Reverend Chasuble and Cecily's tutor Miss Prism. Anjie Grady will play Lane, Algy's servant, and Merriman, Jack's servant, will be Rhett Pennell. Both Anjie and Rhett are new to HLT. They will also be joined by Lyn Morton, Anna Fleming, and Daniel Fritog as tourists and tour guide.
Kai Elijah Hamilton is director. Charlotte Overbaugh is the producer. The set is being designed by Hamilton and John Arnett, and Jonathan Forrester is stage manager.
"The Importance of Being Earnest" runs for three weekends with two Thrifty Thursday performances ($5 off each ticket). Evening performances begin at 7:30 and Sunday matinees are at 2 p.m. Tickets are $20 for adults, $15 for students 18-25, and $10 for students 17 and younger. Tickets may be ordered online at Hendersonvillelittletheatre.org. Telephone sales began June 3 at 828-692-1082.
The box office will be open Fridays June 14, 21 and 28 and Saturdays June 15, 22 and 29 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. for in-person sales.