"Hey, where’s your hanky? It should be on the shelf backstage," shouts director Angela Morris from the middle of the darkened gym. She's giving direction to one of the costumed actors who just mimed blowing his nose during an early dress rehearsal of the upcoming play The Importance of Being Earnest. Meanwhile, costume designer Kelley Maxfield jots a note that the actor will need a pocket added to his coat to hold the hanky, while a panel of stage crew workers watch the script on computer monitors and coordinate lights and sound. It's all part of fine-tuning the details for the production of this popular play by Oscar Wilde. Performances will be held at Maranatha Baptist Bible College on November 16-18 at 7 pm, with a matinee at 2 pm on November 18.
Set in England's Victorian era, this clever comedy follows the adventures of Jack and Algernon as they try to win their way into the hearts of Gwendolen and Cecily, respectively. When the young men are forced to tell the truth, their confessions lead to the startling revelation of Jack's true identity.
Mrs. Morris loves directing the play because the actors are talented and the play is so witty. "Even though I've watched it almost nightly for three months now, I still laugh at every rehearsal because there is just so much humor," she says. "And if we’re honest, we see a bit of ourselves in Gwendolyn, Cecily, Jack, and Algernon."
The nine-member cast has caught the essence of the script and the quotable humor, all claiming their favorite funny lines. Justin Jones, a senior who plays the lead role of Jack Worthing, loves when Cecily says, "Miss Prism says that all good looks are a snare," and Algernon responds, "They are a snare every sensible man would like to be caught in." Sophomore Fraser Armstrong, who plays Algernon, prefers this one: "All women become like their mothers. That’s their tragedy. No man does, and thats his."
Although she's heard the lines countless times, Kristin Post, who plays Lady Bracknell, still struggles to keep a straight face. "This play is incredibly funny, and the set and costumes are amazing as well," she says. "I think it will be a tremendous play."
What sets this production apart from other comedies and plays? "It's Oscar Wilde," says Justin Jones. "The man combined an engaging plot with heavy social criticism and served it in a package of wit. Hard to beat."
Maranatha Play Prepares for Laughs 
