Girls (and guys) just wanna have fun!

on

Studying a text often makes it lose the lively quality it has when you just sink in to enjoy it (either as a performance or for what it is). I feel this way about Oscar Wilde’s The Importance of Being Earnest. When studying it in class I was too busy trying to come up with an argument, to sound academic and to make valid points in class, to truly appreciate it. Did I enjoy reading the play? Yes. Was I a massive fan? No. 

However, my appreciation for said play has grown significantly since watching a recorded performance of it last week at the Byre. The National Theatre has a knack for bringing incredible vividity to any text they stage and this performance was no different. 

ID: still from the play's finale. Source: nationaltheatre.org.uk.
Seeing the characters interact brought me to tears with laughter in a way that reading the play simply didn’t. Words are one thing, but the performance, intonation and chemistry between actors is what makes it truly comedic. I could practically feel Jack's and (occasionally) Algy’s gay panic through the screen. The subtext I fought to seek out and highlight in class was emphasised so much by the actors’ performance that it became the only interpretation possible. The gay was gaying on a whole other level. Although I know it to be part of what Wilde intended, it became more distinct and 1000 times funnier. The contemporary queer references also didn't hurt. I'd like to imagine Oscar voguing in his grave with queer joy as soon as the play began. 

ID: Interval screen, taken by author at The Byre.
Even though I know the plot well, the cast still managed to surprise me with every line. Their interpretation of the text and embodiment of the characters on stage made me feel as though I'd never encountered it before. This wasn't just a matter of ink on a page; they became real people in whose lives I was invested in.

The clever set design, colourful costumes, thoughtful scoring, inventive choreography and masterful performance brought Wilde’s work to life in the most excellent way. From the flirtatious yapping between Algy and Jack, serious checking out of Cecily and Gwendolen to the gravity of Lady Bracknell's stage presence, the performance never ceased to enthuse. The guys and gals were just having fun, and if I'm being earnest, I and the audience had the best of fun too! If you get a spare moment and it's on at any nearby or far away cinema I highly recommend giving it a watch! I'd certainly see it again if I ever get the chance! 

By Mariya (they/them)