ATHENS– The Athenian Players of Athens State University present their production of Oscar Wilde’s farce The Importance of Being Earnest. This play, directed by Assistant Professor of Drama, Dr. Hugh Long, will be performed in the newly renovated McCandless Hall on the Athens State Campus.
The Importance of Being Earnest is a comedy in which the protagonists maintain fictitious persona in order to escape burdensome social obligations. Set within the social conventions of late Victorian London, the play’s major themes are the triviality with which it treats institutions as serious as marriage, and the resulting satire of society and social norms. Contemporary reviews all praised the play’s humor marking the highest point of Wilde’s artistic career. Its high farce and witty dialogue have helped make The Importance of Being Earnest Wilde’s most enduringly popular play.
Performances will run Thursday, Friday and Saturday April 10, 11 and 12 and Thursday 
and Friday April 17 and 18 at 7:30 p.m. A matinee performance will be held on Sunday April 13 at 1:30 p.m. Admission will be charged at the door and is $10.00 per person, $7.00 for students and seniors. There will also be a “Dinner & Theatre” benefit performance presented on Saturday April 19, at 7 pm, catered by Picasso’s Grill. Tickets for “Dinner & Theatre” are $30.00.
“Earnest is the perfect vehicle to stage as our inaugural performance for the historic and beloved McCandless Hall” states Long, “Of course in true Athenian Player fashion we put an unexpected spin on Wilde’s comedy to give it interest. You can count on that, it will definitely be entertaining.”
The cast consists of Patrick Kustor, Wayne Blanks, Courtney Croxdale, Jensie Britt, Stephanie Cooper, Ben Montgomery, Kimberly Brinkley, K.L. Riley, and Laura Poe. Dr. Kimberly Jack will design costumes; Tracy Szappan will serve as Stage Manager; and Victoria Cochran as Technical Director.
More information can be found at www.athens.edu/athenianplayers.
