By Stefanie Sears

William Shakespeare is famously known for his command of the English language. This very concept kickstarts The Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey (STNJ)’s 2025 “Violent Delights” Season, its 63rd Season overall, in the form of Oscar Wilde’s classic The Importance of Being Earnest, referred to as the funniest play ever written. It premiered on May 14 and will be playing until June 1 at The F.M. Kirby Shakespeare Theatre. 

“Everyone is clever nowadays!” expresses an irritated John “Jack” Worthing (Tug Rice) to his friend Algernon “Algy” Moncrieff (Christian Frost), who has just annoyed him with one of his cheeky remarks. Jack is in town (1895 London) because he wishes to propose to Algy’s cousin Gwendolen Fairfax (Carolyne Leys), daughter of Lady Augusta Bracknell (Marion Adler). However, Lady Bracknell is not giving them permission to be wed due to Jack’s lack of origin proof. He was found in a handbag in the strangest of places as a baby, so therefore he does not know who his parents are. 

The clever play on words humor comes into play with the double meaning of the word “earnest.” Jack lives in the countryside but uses the name “Ernest” as an excuse to visit town, inventing a troublesome younger brother named Ernest that he must check on, while adopting the name for himself while in town. As a result, he lives a double life and is anything but “earnest.” 

Algy calls this “Bunburying.” He himself has invented a friend named “Bunbury” as an excuse to visit the countryside and avoid expectations at home. He goes “Bunburying” when he finds out that Jack has a ward named Cecily Cardew (Joyce Meimei Zheng) in the country and he wishes to meet her. 

Something very unique about this production is that the first half of the show runs much quicker than the second half. The first half flies by and is followed by the standard 15-minute intermission while the second half is briefly paused for a 5-minute intermission. Both intermissions are used for set changes and separate the play into its three-act structure. 

The introduction of Cecily in the second half is when the laughs really take place. Zheng, making her STNJ debut, plays Cecily so innocently and yet so maturely, capturing the youth and naivety yet clever wit of the character. It is the addition of her and Algy’s antagonism, for Algy is often a thorn in Jack’s side, that really sets the depth of the play into motion. Algy assumes the identity of Ernest Worthing to meet Cecily and instantly falls in love with her — right when Jack tries to claim that Ernest has passed away.  

Not only are the men at each other, so are the leading ladies. But while the men are quite opposite in personality, Gwendolen and Cecily are

similar in terms of dramatics, speech, desires, and their love for the name “Ernest” and distaste for…well, certain others. Their meeting, a combination of female friendship and foe ship, is one of the main highlights of the show and receives the most audience applause.

STNJ’s own Artistic Director Brian B. Crowe directed this one, and something that he does very well here is include various slapstick,

mannerisms, and gestures that really contribute to the humor. For instance, Richard Bourg plays two characters, Lane and Merriman, both of whom are servant characters that react to moments in the show and find Algy in particular bothersome. Some of the funnier parts of the play are when characters mouth words instead but the acting from this cast still gets across what they say in a comedic manner.

Austin Blake Conlee must also be commended for the costume design. Not only are the costumes gorgeous, he made a nice touch by matching the two couples by color in the second half. 

This comedy of manners is a perfect show for this spring time of year. The lighting is bright, the colors are vibrant, the flowers are in full bloom, and it is a lighthearted sweet love story of romance and hilarity. There is even another flirtatious couple in the mix: Reverend Chasuble (Alvin Keith) and Miss Prism (Celia Schaefer).  

Other events that will occur during the show’s run will be Storefront to Stage on May 21, Hobnob & Hang on May 23, and The Wilde Garden Party on May 28.

This play is guaranteed to make you crave tea time and cucumber sandwiches by the end of it.