Oscar Wilde's most popular comical play, "The Importance of Being Earnest," had a successful opening night on Friday at the Sierra Madre Playhouse.  Directed by Patricia Wylie, the play is delivered with plenty of wit in three acts divided by a 15-minute intermission.  Jason Perlman does well as a young, aristocracy-spoiled Algernon Moncreif, while Orange County-born Jessica Culaciati, a graduate of Cal State Long Beach, performs Ms. Gwendolen Fairfax nicely.  An impressively tall Brett Hamilton is Jack Worthing,  and Betsy Reisz delivers an entertaining Cecily Cardew. 

   "The Importance of Being Earnest" is the story of two young men who create double lives to escape the constraints of their own realities.  It is also a commentary on the eccentricities and the hypocrisy of the Victorian society.  It was written in 1894 and its action is set in the same decade.  This cast does well presenting Wilde's work in the fun, light-humored way that he intended it.  It rounds up with the performances of T.G. Cody as Lane, Koni McCurdy as Lady Bracknell, Osa Danam as Miss Prism, Richard Large and Rev. Cannon Chasuble and Phil Apoian as Merriman.

   The Sierra Madre Playhouse is a small theater that has been in operation since 1979.  There is really no bad seat in the house.  

The Importance of Being Earnest
Sierra Madre Playhouse
http://www.sierramadreplayhouse.org
87 W. Sierra Madre Blvd, Sierra Madre, CA
Friday through Sunday - August 14 - September 26
Tickets $12 - $20

The play's full text - http://www.hoboes.com/html/FireBlade/Wilde/earnest/