BELLOWS FALLS — For its fall production, the Bellows Falls Union High School Drama Club performs Oscar Wilde's beloved farce, “The Importance of Being Earnest,” on Friday, Nov. 15 at 7:30 p.m., and Saturday, Nov. 16 at 2 and 7:30 p.m., at the BFUHS auditorium.
Many students came out for auditions, so this year there are primary and understudy casts. In addition to the two traditional evening performances, the cast will perform at a school assembly and a matinee.
“It's a wonderful opportunity to see how each student can interpret and perform the characters differently,” drama club director Katy Emond said.
The understudy cast, featuring Jon Skrocki, Brittany Laurendeau, Hollie Jackson, and Liz Brooks, will perform at a fourth-block student assembly on Friday, Nov. 15, and in a Saturday matinee.
Senior Brittany Laurendeau, slated to play Gwendolen Fairfax in the matinee and school assembly, is an understudy:
“While I wish I could be in the primary cast, I really love doing the plays and really getting any part in the play is a good thing. Even though I'm an understudy it's still a really important part,” she said.
She added that she enjoys undertaking plays with people who share her interests and passions:
“I like the challenges of trying to think of the background of your character to make that character seem more real and to make it really convincing while you're acting. I'm excited for the show, and can't wait,” she said.
Austin Lelpi performs Algernon Moncrieff, a young bachelor who has squandered much of his inheritance on his extravagant lifestyle.
“The truth is rarely pure and never simple,” Lelpi quotes Moncrieff as saying. Moncrieff's luck is about to change when he learns that his dear friend Ernest Worthing, played by Austin McDaniel, has been lying about his identity in order to venture to town.
His young ward, Cecily Cardew, played by Emma Moyna, becomes the object of Algernon's affection as he adopts the name Ernest in order to woo her. This hilarious production of mistaken identities, and the triviality of love, will delight audiences of all ages.
The primary cast of Austin McDaniel, Austin Lelpi, Sam Empe, Trinna Larsen, Emma Moyna, Paige Moody, Arianna Parris, Nieva Schemm and Anny Brown will perform at the two evening shows.
Admission is $5 at the door.
“The Importance of Being Earnest, A Trivial Comedy for Serious People” was first performed on Feb. 14, 1895 at the St. James's Theatre in London.