The Importance of Being Earnest

After casting, Bob was in Wilde heaven. He’s a Wilde buff to begin with, and can quote unimaginable numbers of Wilde epigrams in the best of times. Now he became a Wilde detective, seeking out nuggets of wit, many of which snuck their way into the script, adding a couple dozen new jokes – all pure Wilde. This process sort of reminded me of how Shakespeare must have felt turning the Plautus story into The Comedy of Errors: “hey, I can make it even FUNNIER!” He would come home from rehearsals giggling about the fun staging he and the actors found every day. Phrases like “not even for ready money,” and “the weather still continues charming” became irresistible.

Bob’s pre-show and Shakespeare Dinner talks never failed to elicit raves from audience members. He was in his element, and it showed. The production was called by many one of the best we’ve ever produced. Bravo!


From the Playbill

“Shakespeare, were his mortal coil as immortal as his words, would have been 445 years old this year. Marin Shakespeare Company is 20, which still feels like a big number. Welcome to the celebration!

The three plays this summer were selfishly chosen to give pleasure. The Importance of Being Earnest is one of the wittiest, most delicious pieces of theatre ever written and one for which we have a personal attachment; when three different patrons last summer asked why we’ve never done it, it felt like a sign…

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As we look back over our first 20 years, the memories are too numerous to begin to name….
As astounding as it is to think back over all we’ve learned and done in our first 20 years, it is even more inspiring to think ahead to all we might achieve over the next 20 years.

– Artistic Director Welcome

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