Stage review: Pittsburgh Public Theater's 'Earnest' is a timeless comedy with a fresh take

As spring comes to Pittsburgh, love — and laughter — is in the air with Pittsburgh Public Theater’s production of Oscar Wilde’s classic play, “The Importance of Being Earnest.” The play, newly adapted and directed by Jenny Koons, and in collaboration with Baltimore Center Stage, premiered Wednesday night at the O’Reilly Theater in downtown Pittsburgh and runs through April 14.

“The Importance of Being Earnest” was first performed in 1895 at St. James’s Theatre in London, England. It is perhaps the most beloved of Oscar Wilde’s plays, and it has been revived onstage and adapted to the screen many times. There is a good reason why this particular play keeps audiences coming back for more — while it may be set in Victorian times, the humor and heart endure.

Without giving away too many of the hilarious twists and turns of the plot, the story centers around two aristocratic young men, Jack (Paul Deo Jr.) and Algernon (Dylan Marquis Meyers). They both lead secretive lives, but when they fall in love with a pair of ladies, their secrets cause some serious complications. What comes next is a series of events that wouldn’t feel out of place in a modern sitcom, but with the airs of high society.

“Earnest” was written as satire of Victorian aristocracy and etiquette, meant to lampoon the hypocrisy of the era. As a product of its time, it delights lovers of period pieces and comedy fans alike.

The language may sound snobby, but the jokes come one after another, especially thanks to the cast’s easy and quick delivery. There is something about watching two men stand in the garden of an English country house at tea time arguing about muffins that will always get an audience roaring with laughter, but Deo Jr. and Meyers had a sparkling comedic chemistry that adds something extra.

Even in scenes with their respective love interests, Gwendolyn (Veronica del Cerro) and Cecily (Alex Manalo), the male leads charmed while stumbling over their secrets. The sophisticated Gwendolyn, who is Algernon’s cousin and Jack’s love interest, was played by del Cerro with a confidence that heightened her character’s often-absurd assertions. Manalo’s Cecily, Jack’s ward and Algernon’s love interest, was fanciful and strong-willed. The scenes that the pair shared were some of the funniest in the show.

The standout of the cast was David Ryan Smith as Lady Bracknell, Gwendolyn’s mother and Algernon’s aunt. The embodiment of Victorian manners and morals, Lady Bracknell is a booming presence in every room she occupies, and Smith played her so perfectly that he was granted applause from the audience upon exiting his first scene.

Completing the cast were Susan M. Lynskey as Miss Prism, Cecily’s governess, and Joseph McGranaghan, in the roles of Lane, Merriman and the Rev. Chasuble. Both gave excellent performances, with Lynskey especially elevating a climactic moment that shouldn’t be spoiled. McGranaghan possesses a quick and dry wit that added an extra spice to his scenes.

This production of “Earnest” was adapted and directed by Jenny Koons, and the 130-year-old words blossom onstage with a new life thanks to her fresh take on the classic. The rest of the talented creative team sets the scene for the leisurely luxury of Victorian teas, with the guidance of set designer Jason Ardizzone-West and lighting designer Annmarie Duggan. Costume designer Hugh Hanson worked magic with dashing suits and corseted dresses that fit the period perfectly.

Don’t be scared off by the stuffy-seeming surface of “The Importance of Being Earnest.” Even after more than a century, and with a new adaptation, it remains uproariously funny — and even, in the end, a little bit earnest.

Pittsburgh Public Theater’s “The Importance of Being Earnest” will run through April 14 at the O’Reilly Theater in downtown Pittsburgh. For more information, and to purchase tickets, visit ppt.org/Earnest.