Wednesday, November 5, 1997
Wilde’s classic sets stage for color-blind act
THEATER Cast of African Americans presented as actors, not
stereotypes
By Sam Toussi
Daily Bruin Contributor
It’s unfortunate that even in a more racially enlightened
society, (though probably never color-blind) we still see mostly
white casts in our movies, television and theater.
Parts for minorities are ridiculously few and most parts offered
are "ethnic" parts in stories specifically geared to one ethnicity.
It seems that in the entertainment industry, the concept of
performers just being people, regardless of color, is a distant
dream.
Occasionally, though, we are treated to a vision of the world
some of us wish we lived in.
One such occasion is the 24th Street Theatre’s production of
"The Importance of Being Earnest." Oscar Wilde’s classic is
presented there with an all African American cast.
The wonderful thing about the 24th Street Theatre’s production
of Wilde’s classic is that it is not a gimmick nor is it trying to
say anything profound about race relations. They didn’t do anything
silly like transport the play to modern times and set it in
Compton. It is simply African Americans playing in a wonderful
play.
And what a wonderful job they have done.
The play revolves around Algernon (Darryl Theirse), and Scotch
(Ellis Loring) and Jack Worthing (Jerry Dixon), two friends who lie
and pretend their way into relationships with two different women.
Jack pursues Gwendolen Fairfax (Susan Patterson) under the false
pretense that his name is Earnest for it has always been
Gwendolen’s dream to marry a man named Earnest. Algernon pursues
Cecily Cardew (Karen Bankhead) who is Jack’s ward under the
pretense that he is Jack’s brother Earnest. And, what do you know,
Cecily wants to marry a man named Earnest.
Every member of the cast is simply incredible in painting
comedic nuances that fit perfectly into their character and are
only hinted at in the text. The whole cast has an energy that draws
the audience into the ridiculousness of English high society.
Two actors stand out, however. Theirse and Dixon are both
comedically gifted, individually, but get the two on stage together
and watch sparks fly. Theirse and Dixon are the archetype for the
Odd Couple, one free and one tight. Theirse’s performance of
Algernon is remarkably prissy, but he is equally sly. He allows
Dixon to play off his pent-up, frustrated, stuffed shirt character
into an actually likable character.
Patterson and Bankhead are dynamite as Wilde’s main women. Wilde
paints these two characters as petty, superficial, obnoxious,
arrogant and slightly dimwitted, and Patterson and Bankhead make
the audience love every minute of it. Bankhead especially brings
out the conceited nature of her character and gets great laughs for
her childish charm.
The staging of the play puts the audience on three sides of the
performing area which works very well for the most part. This lets
the actors roam freely and brings out the physical comedy of the
play. But here is the only knock on the play: often, the actors are
caught with their backs to one side of the audience and the
playhouse drowns out their voices.
Director Gregg Daniel also uses a wonderfully minimal set to
convey the setting and gaudy, overdone costumes to convey the
gaudy, overdone nature of high society London.
The 24th Street Theatre is doing something great in producing
this play. They present African American actors as performers as
opposed to racial stereotypes. This play won’t change the face of
theater. Maybe, 40 years ago it would have. But this play is worth
seeing because it is well done, very funny, and it makes a
statement without saying anything at all.
THEATER: "The Importance of Being Earnest" plays through Nov. 23
at the 24th Street Theatre at the corner of Hoover and 24th Street
in Los Angeles. Tickets are $12 with discounts for students. For
more information, call (213) 667-0417.
24th Street Theatre
The 24th Street Theatre stages Oscar Wilde’s classic, "The
Importance of Being Earnest."