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Learn the Importance of Being Earnest

TLT kicks off its season with Victorian comedy
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Lady Bracknell (Nancy Stone Archer) lifts the chin of Cecily Cardew (Janine Hamming) to see if Cecily can wear her chin high enough to be part of good society in Terrace Little Theatre’s production of The Importance of Being Earnest. Margaret Speirs photo

The Importance of Being Earnest is bringing its Victorian satire to the stage of the Terrace Little Theatre (TLT) for its season opener.

Director Robin McLeod said the comedy was chosen as the opener because it’s entertaining and well-known.

One thing she learned about the play: it was originally written in four acts but cut down to three before it premiered on stage back in the late 19th century in London, England.

TLT’s production will include some lines from the original fourth act but it’s likely even those who know the play well, may not notice.

The play revolves around John Worthing, a carefree young gentleman, who invents a fictitious brother—‘Ernest’—whose wicked ways afford John an excuse to leave his country home from time to time to journey to London, where he visits his friend Algernon Moncrieff, who has a fictitious friend for the same reason. Complications arise when more than one woman falls in love with ‘Ernest’.

Lady Bracknell is played by Nancy Stone Archer, Cecily Cardew is played by Janine Hamming, Letitia Prism is played by Amy Turner, Dr. Frederick Chasuble is played by Anthony Pires, Gwendolen Fairfax is played by Heather Kurisu, Jack Worthing is played by Nathan Hoffart, Algernon Moncrieff is played by Steve Kietzmann, and Brian Wyatt plays two roles as butlers Lane and Merriman.

The Importance of Being Earnest opens Oct. 27 at 8 p.m. at the McColl Playhouse. It runs Oct. 28, Nov. 3, 4, 10, 11, 17, 18. Tickets at Uniglobe Travel.

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Letitia Prism (Amy Turner) reveals a scandalous secret from her past to Dr. Frederick Chasuble (Anthony Pires) under the watchful eyes of Gwendolyn Fairfax (Heather Kurisu), Lady Augusta Bracknell (Nancy Stone Archer) and Cecily Cardew (Janine Hamming) in Terrace Little Theatres production of The Importance of Being Earnest. Margaret Speirs photo