California Baptist University’s Wallace Theatre is presenting its fall play, “The Importance of Being Earnest” by Oscar Wilde, with opening weekend set for Friday, Oct. 11.
According to the Wallace Theatre website, the play is set in late 19th-century England and is considered a “comedy of manners,” revolving around two young men, Jack Worthing and Algernon Moncrieff.
The cast entered tech week on Friday, Oct. 4, just one week before opening night. Despite the challenges of tech week, the production will soon take center stage and captivate its audience.
Brooke Maurer, a freshman playing Gwendolen Fairfax, explained that the comedic aspect of the show is something everyone can enjoy.
“The audience should be excited to see this show because it will make everyone laugh! There is something in this show for absolutely anyone, as our characters often comment on society in unusual ways, which allow the play to have a deeper meaning besides just comedy,” Maurer said.
As Wallace Theatre’s first show of the season comes together, the goal for many of the performers and directors is to glorify God and show His love through their work. The theme for this year’s season is “Greatest of Their Time,” and Wallace Theatre will explore this theme throughout the school year, beginning with “The Importance of Being Earnest.”
The director, set designer and light designer Lee Lyons, professor of theatre, will be retiring in May of 2025, and “The Importance of Being Earnest” will be his final play as a director and professor of theatre at CBU.
“This is my final directorial here because I’m retiring in May. So it’s like a celebration in that.” Lyons said. “I’m very proud of the production.”
Lyons’s last production was smooth sailing, as he noticed the students put in their efforts to ensure obstacles were cleared. Lyons expresses his satisfaction of the cast and their hard work
“I have been really pleased. I feel like this production got to a place where I was able to show it to people earlier than other productions I’ve done. So that’s a tribute to the actors just being very disciplined and studying and learning their lines.” Lyons said. “They really put their hearts into it”
For Maurer, the key takeaway for the audience is clear.
“I want the audience to take away that we are allowed to have fun in life. We often focus on the negative aspects of our lives rather than highlighting God’s goodness. This show illustrates the humor of life, and we can all appreciate a good laugh once in a while,” Maurer said.
As the cast prepares for opening night, Matthew Furness, a junior theater major and one of the leads playing Algernon, highlighted some key aspects of the show and his character.
“It’s a comedy of manners, which basically pokes fun at what society was like during that time, because it’s Oscar Wilde, so the 1800s,” Furness said. “The story of Jack and Algernon is about finding their pathways in life and what it really means to live and be earnest. Earnest means being true to oneself. It’s kind of a double entendre because there’s also someone named Earnest.”
As opening night approaches, it’s important to remind the production team of the message behind the play. Furness explained that each play the theatre puts on is chosen with a purpose: to teach a lesson.
“Something important for all the characters is growing to be sincere in who they are. And I think that’s important for the audience as well, especially a Christian audience. We’re living to be sincere because of what God has called us to do,” Furness said.
On the CBU campus, students can find God in everything they do. Whether it’s a play directly about God or a comedic production, the theatre always finds a way to glorify the Lord.
“We bring God into everything we do. God has given us gifts, and we want to perform our gifts to the best of our ability so that others can find God through that,” Furness said.
