Denzel Westley-Sanderson’s rendition of Oscar Wilde’s The Importance of Being Earnest offers a vibrant exploration of what it means to be fashionable in a Victorian-meets-postmodern world. Displaying the hedonism of the Victorian world through lavish costuming, and even more extravagant props to accompany, the play showcases the intersection of class, gender, and sexuality within the comedic dysfunctionality of a British family.

The play is set apart in its deliberate and conscious displays of history. Director Westley-Sanderson spent considerable time researching black Victorians in England, commenting that he would “be very happy” if the work “prompt[ed] some curiosity about Black Victorians”. In championing the voices of LGBTQIA+ people, drag performers, and black Victorians, Westley-Sanderson reimagines what could have been a stale period production.

In adopting a gender-fluid approach to characters and relationships, Westley-Sanderson’s adaptation of the play becomes a powerful homage to Oscar Wilde’s homophobically motivated arrest for gross indecency shortly after the release of The Importance of Being Earnest. This is particularly pertinent in the clouding of boundaries in the relationship between Dr Chasuble (Anita Reynolds) and Miss Prism (Joanne Henry).

The play masterfully walks the line between comedy and social critique. While remaining true to its Victorian provenance, particularly in costuming and language, Westley-Sanderson celebrates freedom, liberty, and the advent of progressive thinking. Daniel Jacobs as Lady Bracknell was the star of the show, providing moments of intense comedic relief. Abiola Owokoniran, a recent graduate from the Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts, made his professional debut as Algernon Moncrieff, similarly showcasing his wit and versatility in the role.

The play masterfully walks the line between comedy and social critique

Lily Arnold’s set design seamlessly facilitates Westley-Sanderson’s creative vision, transporting the audience into a world of both luxury and deceit. Walls that were solid were at once transparent and flimsy, initially concealing and then exposing characters as they sought to uncover the true Earnest. Individual gold frames hung on the wall, perfectly lit but missing artwork. Rather, pieces of complete and incomplete art were littered across the stage, sporadically moved by characters over the course of the play.

A tower of martinis in the corner of the stage slowly dwindled as the distinction between the two Earnests (played by Owokoniran and Ritchie) began to blur. A real apple tree, placed in the centre of the stage, signified the characters’ internal battles with lust and temptation. Arnold succeeded in transforming the Cambridge Arts Theatre into a playground through which actors embodied the mischievousness of their respective characters.

The most unique aspect of the set was the integration of a pop-up photography display by Autograph as part of the ‘Black Chronicles – The Missing Chapter’ display. Studio portraits depicting African, Caribbean, and South Asian individuals in the Victorian era provided unique and tangible insight into contemporary black lives.

Although a technical issue meant that a brief interlude was required, Cecily (Phoebe Campbell) and Gwendolen (Adele James) masterfully handled the transition, captivating the audience through their farcical facial expressions and over-dramatised body language.

Ultimately, Westley-Sanderson’s The Importance of Being Earnest captures the messiness of familial privations, providing glimmerings of truth over the course of the play. In doing so, the cast breaks down the exterior of gentility and decorum to create a piece that draws back the veil on upper-class life in Victorian England.

The Importance of being Earnest was showing at Cambridge Arts Theatre between 21-24 September 2022.