High society goes bunburying (Kentucky Shakespeare Festival and Actors Theater of Louisville)

The Importance of Being Ernest By Oscar Wilde Directed by Amy Attaway

A review by Kate Barry

Entire contents are copyright © 2025 Kate Barry. All rights reserved.

Cucumber sandwiches, handbags and bunburying…these are just some of the repartee in Oscar Wilde’s sharp social satire The Importance of Being Ernest. Ever since its controversial run in Victorian-Era Britain, the comedy about class has delighted audiences. Kentucky Shakespeare Festival has teamed up with Actors Theater of Louisville to stage a foppish romp which is just we need after a massive snow storm.

It’s no secret that Oscar Wilde is a master of wit. A fitting addition to the Kentucky Shakespeare cannon of winter in door productions, the biting commentary on upper class society and word play feels like a direct correlation to Shakespeare. And this comedy is all about mistaken identity too! Things get muffled when two dandies chase love and have a little bit of fun with a change in name. What’s in a name, am I right? In this case, wealth and social status relies in a name.

As Algernon and Jack, Zachary Burrell and Crystian Wiltshire lean into the chaos they create while enjoying every minute of it. Burrell’s Algernon indulges in his earthly pleasures with constantly snacking, shallowly pursuing of love and finding entertainment in the confusion around him. Wiltshire’s Jack wears his emotions on his sleeve which leads him in and out of trouble. Burrell’s Algernon finds the whimsy in toying with names while Witshire’s Jack nerves are nearly frayed by the whole ordeal.

The play provides a strong ensemble of some of Kentucky Shakespeare’s finest familiar faces. Neill Robertson shows range as butler’s Lane and Merriman with a simple mustache and change in posture. Mollie Murk’s Gwendolen is a commanding force as a city dweller who knows what they want. Murk shines with Beebee Patillo’s sweet natured Cecily as they form a fast friendship. When the identity of their common love Ernest is challenged, Patillo and Murk are quick to change from giggly to a confrontational united front against Algernon and Jack.

Jon Huffman’s appearance as Lady Bracknell is the strongest in a production of ace performances. Fully formed with bold choices, Huffman gives judgmental grimaces and stern side eye to spare. This high society dame makes the decisions and commands the room. But the facial expressions and physicality feed into Huffman’s playfulness with Wilde’s script. It was truly a joy to watch Huffman’s Bracknell effortlessly deliver punchlines and one liners in the form of one of Modern theater’s fiercest matriarch.

Oscar Wilde’s play still resonates because of the ruthless jabs, jokes and unapologetic way his characters are portrayed. Kentucky Shakespeare Festival’s production holds on tightly to the comedy of manners with expert delivery and timing. These are characters with lots of money and lots of trivial issues and you cant help but laugh at them.

The Importance of Being Ernest Kentucky Shakespeare Festival and Actors Theater of Louisville January 11-19 2025 Pamela Brown Auditorium 316 West Main street Louisville KY 40202 kentuckyshakespeare.com or actorstheatre.org