The Importance of Being Earnest
May 2016
Cast List (in order of appearance)
Lane
Curtis Armitage
Algernon Moncrieff
Josh Webb
John (Jack) Worthing
Andy Anderson
Lady Bracknell
Grant Flanagan
Gwendolen Fairfax
Faye Wyatt
Miss Prism
Kathy West
Cecily Cardew
Lauren Feekings
Merriman
Jan Wyatt
Rev. Canon Chasuble
Andrew Manktelow
Maid
Kerry Bailey
Set Designer
Kathy West
Set Construction
Hugh Bailey, Kerry Bailey, Jill Balderston, Neil Balderston, Kevin Lane, Beryl Lacey, Steve Berry,
Kathy West, Ian West, Claire Feekings, Mick Feekings, Lauren Feekings, Helen Caston, Grant Flanagan, Curtis Armitage
Stage Manager
Jill Balderston
Assistant Stage Manager
Leigh Redding
Stage Crew
Linda Brown, Mick Feekings & Ian West
Lights and Sound
Helen Caston
Costumes
Claire Feekings, Beryl Lacey, & Fran Genduso
Props
Kerry Bailey & Linda Brown
Prompt
Jo Godman
This production was our second entry into the Kent Drama Association's 2016 Full-Length Play Festival and received the following nominations:
- Best Actress in a Supporting Role (TODS Trophy) - Kathy West as Miss Prism - Runner-up
- Best Wardrobe Achievement - Runner-up
- Best Set Design (Jean Grice Trophy) - Kathy West - Winner
NODA Review of The Importance of Being Earnest 2016
Over the past years several productions of The Importance of Being
Earnest have been produced in various guises, and with different stars playing the lead
roles - I have seen a few! So when I got the call from RaTS I thought 'oh no!
not another Earnest'.
I need not have worried, this Earnest was fresh and directed superbly by Claire Feekings; a début in directing for her I believe. If this is correct she has got a flair for it. It was directed with lots of movement and Claire got her actors to bring out their characters. Lane (Curtis Armitage) played with a tongue in cheek and sarcasm, difficult with so little dialogue. Algernon Moncrieff (Josh Webb) a great part for a young guy, he played Algernon with flare. Coupled with Andy Anderson as John/Jack Worthing; who is a very expressive and a natural actor, he uses his eyes and stance. His uptake on dialogue were superb!! Lady Bracknell, (Grant Flanagan) does not so much enter a room as occupy it totally. He is a master of the frozen stares of disdain and is just what this part requires. Grant's interpretation of Bracknell was exceptional and his facial nuances were spot on. Faye Wyatt and Lauren Feekings are utterly exquisite and inventively adorable as Miss Fairfax and Miss Cardew. I have never seen better performances of these two parts. Kathy West on the other hand gave us a great appropriate character to uncover Jack's true history, because she also is not what she seems. Teamed with the Reverend Chasuble (Andrew Manktelow) gave us some nice comedy moments as did Jan Wyatt as Merriman. The set must get a mention, designed expertly by Kathy West,...Fabulous well done to you all, it worked, solid, and workable, a joy to see.
Claire Feekings your debut to directing was, and is successful, carry on.
Gordon Harris,I need not have worried, this Earnest was fresh and directed superbly by Claire Feekings; a début in directing for her I believe. If this is correct she has got a flair for it. It was directed with lots of movement and Claire got her actors to bring out their characters. Lane (Curtis Armitage) played with a tongue in cheek and sarcasm, difficult with so little dialogue. Algernon Moncrieff (Josh Webb) a great part for a young guy, he played Algernon with flare. Coupled with Andy Anderson as John/Jack Worthing; who is a very expressive and a natural actor, he uses his eyes and stance. His uptake on dialogue were superb!! Lady Bracknell, (Grant Flanagan) does not so much enter a room as occupy it totally. He is a master of the frozen stares of disdain and is just what this part requires. Grant's interpretation of Bracknell was exceptional and his facial nuances were spot on. Faye Wyatt and Lauren Feekings are utterly exquisite and inventively adorable as Miss Fairfax and Miss Cardew. I have never seen better performances of these two parts. Kathy West on the other hand gave us a great appropriate character to uncover Jack's true history, because she also is not what she seems. Teamed with the Reverend Chasuble (Andrew Manktelow) gave us some nice comedy moments as did Jan Wyatt as Merriman. The set must get a mention, designed expertly by Kathy West,...Fabulous well done to you all, it worked, solid, and workable, a joy to see.
Claire Feekings your debut to directing was, and is successful, carry on.
NODA SE District 5.
The most renowned of Oscar Wilde's comedies, this is the story of two bachelors, John 'Jack' Worthing and Algernon 'Algy' Moncrieff, who create alter egos named Ernest to escape their tiresome lives. They attempt to win the hearts of two women who, conveniently, claim to only love men called Ernest. The pair struggle to keep up with their own stories and become tangled in a tale of deception, disguise and misadventure. The elaborate plot ridicules Victorian sensibilities with some of the best loved, and indeed bizarre, characters to be found on the modern stage (who said Lady Bracknell?).
