WILLIAMSVILLE — Rock River Players (RRP) will hold open auditions for The Importance of Being Earnest in the Williamsville Hall on Thursday, Aug. 11, 4 to 6 p.m.; Friday, Aug. 12, 10 a.m. to noon; Monday, Aug. 15, 5:30 to 7:30 p.m.
Directed by Annie Landenberger, Wilde's comedy will run Nov. 4–6 and 11–13 in the Williamsville Hall.
Wilde, a late 19th-century Irish-born playwright is known for his quick wit, rapid-fire repartee, and quirky, rich characters.
In this satire on the follies of classism, pointedly relevant today, John Worthing, a carefree young gentleman, is the inventor of a fictitious brother, “Ernest.” This invention's wicked ways afford John an excuse to leave his country home now and then to head back to London, where he stays with his close friend and confidant, Algernon Moncrieff.
Algernon has a cousin, Gwendolen Fairfax, whom John loves madly. During his London visits, John, under the name Ernest, has won Gwendolen's love because she's set on marrying someone with the confidence-inspiring name of Ernest. But when he asks for Gwendolen's hand from the formidable Lady Bracknell, John finds he must reveal he is a foundling who was left in a handbag at Victoria Station.
Disturbed, Bracknell insists that he produce at least one parent before she consents to the marriage. Returning to the country home where he lives with his ward Cecily Cardew and her governess Miss Prism, John finds that Algernon has-surprise!-just arrived under the identity of the nonexistent Ernest. Algernon falls madly in love, too, with the beautiful Cecily, who has long been enamored of the mysterious, fascinating brother Ernest.
With the arrival of Lady Bracknell and Gwendolen, chaos erupts. It turns out that the absent-minded Miss Prism is the nurse who, twenty years ago, misplaced the baby of Lady Bracknell's brother in Victoria Station. The ending's not to be revealed herein for fear of spoiling.
Auditioners will be asked to read scenes from the script. English accents are not to be worried about. Auditioners should bring their calendars so conflict dates can be entered on one's audition form.
Rehearsals will run late August to late October: twice weekly, on average, for leads; once weekly for supporting players; tech week is Oct. 30 – Nov. 3. Character descriptions are at rockriverplayers.org.