The Importance of Being Earnest
by Wimberley Players

Oct. 11 - Nov. 06 (2022)

Who is Earnest? Jack is in love with Gwendolyn who thinks Jack’s name is Earnest and swears she could never love a man who is not named Earnest. Jack is trying to keep his best friend Algernon away from his ward Cecily who lives at his country estate. He tells Cecily that his frequent trips to London are to visit with his friend Earnest. Algernon is determined to find out who Jack is hiding and sneaks off to the estate where he introduces himself to Cecily as Earnest. Gwendolyn suspects a rival in the country and promptly sneaks away unchaperoned to visit her Earnest in the country. The two young women think they are in love with the same Earnest. Lady Bracknell, Gwendolyn’s mother, follows her in hot pursuit determined to keep her away from Earnest (Jack) because he is uncertain of his parentage. Only suitors whose names are listed in the social register are good enough for Lady Bracknell’s daughter. The only person who really knows who Earnest is, but does not know she knows, is Cecily’s governess, Miss Prism, who has her heart set on Reverend Chasuble. The confusion of mistaken identity, hidden secrets, and the pursuit of love are masterfully brought to a most delightful conclusion that still surprises audiences today.          

 

Time and Place: 1895, London flat of Algernon Moncrief, garden and drawing room of John (Jack) Worthing’s Manor House in Woolton        

CALL FOR ACTORS! 

 

Auditions for Oscar Wilde's The Importance of Being Earnest

Sunday, November 6, 2022

 

 

The Wimberley Players, Wimberley Playhouse, 450 Old Kyle Rd., Wimberley, Texas, 78676

Contact: Managing Artistic Director, Trish Rigdon, 

managingartisticdirector@wimberleyPlayers.org

512-847-0575 

 

Directed by:  Whitney Marle

Audition Dates:        

• IN PERSON by appointment, Sunday, November 6, 6 – 9 pm at Wimberley Playhouse, 450 Old Kyle Rd., Wimberley, Texas, 78676

 

• If you are unavailable for the in-person audition date, please contact Managing Artistic Director, Trish Rigdon to make alternate arrangements at managingartisticdirector@wimberleyplayers.org or call 512-847-0575.

 

• VIDEO auditions accepted until Sunday, November 6, 6:00 pm

 

Appointment Link:  https://forms.gle/2bwMfx3MxkjU8yAn6

 

Callbacks: In person by appointment, Monday, November 7, 7 – 10 pm at Wimberley Playhouse, 450 Old Kyle Rd., Wimberley, Texas, 78676

 

How to Prepare: Please prepare a 1 – 2-minute monologue of your choosing, sides will also be provided a few days prior to audition.

 

Rehearsals: Begin week of January 15, 2023, Monday – Thursday, 7 – 10 pm

 

Tech Rehearsals: Saturday and Sunday, February 18 & 19, 12:00 – 9:00 pm

 

Dress Rehearsals: Tuesday, February 21 – Thursday, February 23, 6 – 10:30 pm

 

Performance Dates: February 24 – March 19, 2023 (12 performances), Fridays and Saturdays 7:30 pm (6:00 pm call), and Sundays 2:30 pm (1:00 pm call)   

 

Characters: (All roles are volunteer)

 

John (Jack) Worthing (20s-30s) A young, eligible bachelor about town. In the city he goes by the name Ernest, and in the country, he is Jack — a local magistrate of the county with responsibilities.

 

Algernon Moncrieff (20s-30s) A languid poser of the leisure class, bored by conventions and looking for excitement. Algernon, unlike Jack, is not serious and is generally out for his own gratification.

 

Lady Bracknell (50s-60s) A strongly opinionated matriarch, dowager, and tyrant, she believes wealth is more important than breeding and bullies everyone in her path.

 

The Honorable Gwendolen Fairfax (20s) Lady Bracknell's daughter, exhibiting some of the sophistication and confidence of a London socialite, believes style to be important, not sincerity.

 

Cecily Cardew (18-20s) Jack Worthing's ward, daughter of his adopted father, Sir Thomas Cardew. She is romantic and imaginative, a silly and naïve girl.

 

Miss Prism (40s-50s) Cecily's governess and a symbol of Victorian moral righteousness. She is educating Cecily to have no imagination or sensationalism in her life.

 

Rev. Canon Chasuble, D.D. (40s-50s) Like Miss Prism, he is the source of Victorian moral judgments, but under the surface he appears to be an old lecher.

 

Lane (40s-50s) Algernon’s manservant. Dry delivery. Will likely be asked to play Chasuble as well.

 

Merriman (any age) Servant of Jack. A proper manservant.

 

The Wimberley Players are committed to casting productions based on the highest level of talent regardless of race, ethnicity, gender identity, sexuality, body-type or age. Everyone who is dedicated to creating amazing theatre is encouraged to audition with The Wimberley Players. All actors and crew members must be vaccinated for COVID.