I’ve recently traveled back in time to 19th century London.
At first, I was drawn in by a mix of classical and contemporary music, which gave it a fun bounce. The lighting was crepuscular and inviting. Then, two men who were quite the characters, appeared and caught my eye immediately. Within minutes, I was laughing along with the other spectators. From that moment on, the show continuously held my attention. It was only when I found myself clapping at the very end of the night that I realized I was at the University of Massachusetts Boston’s University Hall Theatre attending a play. 
UMass Boston’s production of “The Importance of Being Earnest” by Oscar Wilde was directed by Carrie Ann Quinn and opened on Nov. 2. I’m not exaggerating when I say that my jaw still hurts from laughing so much. I’m also still thinking about some of the gems that I heard during the play. 
“To lose one parent, Mr. Worthing, may be regarded as a misfortune; to lose both looks like carelessness.” 
“The Importance of Being Earnest” is a comedy that withstands the test of time. Wilde’s story is about Ernest, who is actually multiple people, as two of the actors take on this identity. The story starts off with Lane (Jay McCarthy), the manservant, who seems to have a love-hate relationship with his master Algernon (Owen Sherrin). Algernon talks to John (Jacques Matellus) about their love lives. 
A web of lies is created throughout the story. John wants to marry Gwendolen (Jessica Smalley), and Algernon wants to marry Cecily (Lorraine Kanyike). The story has its twists and turns that involve Lady Bracknell (Abigail Dickson), the rich aristocrat who finds ways to prevent John from marrying Gwendolen. What follows is a case of mistaken identity, issues with the English class system, lies, vanity, and selfishness, which add up to pure comedic gold. 
“I never travel without my diary. One should always have something sensational to read on the train.” 
The cast was pleasant to watch. They nailed every line with near perfect delivery. Though the setting was small, it was utilized efficiently, and the cast masterfully worked with every corner of the stage. They definitely played to the audience. It would be wrong to say that there was a single standout performance, as each cast member performed at a high level with unwavering enthusiasm. 
Costume design enhanced the show in many ways. Their authenticity played a significant role in the plays ability to captivate the audience. 
From the very start, the music captured the essence of the show and conveyed what was to be expected—a story that was poking fun at human behavior with very clever and bold dialogue. The whole production did an amazing job bringing a classic back to life.