{"id":1194,"date":"2023-04-26T10:05:04","date_gmt":"2023-04-26T09:05:04","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/pontelandrep.co.uk\/?p=1194"},"modified":"2023-04-26T11:58:25","modified_gmt":"2023-04-26T10:58:25","slug":"the-importance-of-being-earnest-praised-by-ponteland-audiences","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/pontelandrep.co.uk\/index.php\/2023\/04\/26\/the-importance-of-being-earnest-praised-by-ponteland-audiences\/","title":{"rendered":"‘The Importance of Being Earnest’ Praised by Ponteland Audiences"},"content":{"rendered":"

Following on from the very successful Wizard of Oz in November 2022, PRS returned once again to
\nPonteland Memorial Hall, staging an excellent production of Oscar Wilde\u2019s The Importance of Being<\/em>
\nEarnest<\/em>. Feedback from audiences across the four performances has been overwhelmingly positive
\nwith everyone thoroughly enjoying the comedy, the excellent ensemble cast as well as the period
\ncostumes and set. Director Philip Bowell can quite rightly feel proud of what audiences have
\ndescribed as \u2018a really great take on the classic script\u2019.<\/p>\n

Praise has come from all quarters for our two leading men, Adam Shaw playing the long-suffering
\nErnest\/Jack and newcomer to PRS, Mike Giblin, playing the blithe and debonair Algernon Moncrieff.
\nAudiences loved the nuanced performances, the comic timing and the believability of the relationship
\nbetween the two characters as presented on stage.<\/p>\n

Our two leading ladies, Hayley Grant playing Gwendolen and Amber Covington playing Cecily, also
\nreceived praise for their two very different but equally entertaining performances. Hayley\u2019s practiced,
\nself-centred and worldly Gwendolen provided a perfect foil for Cecily\u2019s romantic imaginative,
\nspontaneity.<\/p>\n

No \u2018Earnest\u2019 is complete without a powerful performance from the play\u2019s antagonist, Lady Bracknell,
\nand Caroline Reynolds, who took on the iconic role, did not disappoint! Audiences were unanimous in
\ntheir delight at Caroline\u2019s grand matriarchal portrayal \u2013 especially in some of the classic lines around
\nthe \u2018handbag\u2019.<\/p>\n

Real life husband and wife team Jason and Claire Long managed successfully to bring the upright
\ngoverness Miss Prism and prudish rector Frederick Chasuble to life with audiences enjoying the
\nhilarity of their \u2018will they won\u2019t they\u2019 romance as a middle-aged couple.<\/p>\n

Every production takes a whole unseen \u2018cast\u2019 of many and Director, Philip Browell, was keen to thank
\nPrompt Lesly Eltringham, Set Designer John Eltringham and Props Supervisor Ruth Browell, as well
\nas the many members of the public who donated props, vegetation and also helped front of house.<\/p>\n