"Edwardian Rom-Com" Featured as Drama's Fall Production
A new school year not only means new students, new classes, and new changes to the school overall, but it also means new headlines for the Las Lomas Drama Department. This fall, new endeavors have been pursued department-wide with the production of Oscar Wilde’s “The Importance of Being Earnest.” Set in early twentieth-century England, new stylistic boundaries were tested, with a revolving set and Belle Époque-inspired costumes.
To best explain the theme of the play, director and instructor Taron Hensley said, “Take ‘Downton Abbey’ and mix it with ‘Rom-Com.’ That’s my explanation of it. It’s an Eduardian ‘Rom-Com.’”
Set in its original setting, something that has never been done at this school before made its grand debut- a revolving stage, which made the idea of scene changes ever more fascinating and innovative.
Despite a cast of only fourteen actors and actresses, costume, hair, and make-up crews have never been busier as they recreated the beautiful and complex looks that characterized the Victorian Era.
“We ended up with a slightly earlier Victorian look, around 1890-1900,” said stagecraft and English teacher Meredith Tate. “The Victorian Era is so rich and ornate, set dressing, costumes, and hair elaborate, it’s a thrill. Flowers on top of flowers, fringe on top of fringe. I’m in heaven!” she said.
While those are the details that comprised the production, sophomore Keelyn Snoderly, who debuted her first Las Lomas lead role as Cecily Cardew, described her own experience,
“I think as an actress, I learned how to take criticism and apply the director’s notes to each performance. I definitely learned a lot about comedic timing, and I also discovered a lot of my acting strengths.”
“I think this show, more than any other show, allows you to play off of other actors, which is always, at least for me, the most enjoyable thing to do as an actor.”
This show, which opened on November third and ran through the twelfth, was one that truly delved into a comedic exposé on twentieth-century English aristocracy, as well as delivered justice to the play-writing genius that was Oscar Wilde.
As said by assistant director Elaine Paules,
“If you are a fan of plot twists, awkwardness, and the English, this is the show for you!”
