Characterized as a trivial comedy for serious people, "The Importance of Being Earnest" kicks off the 2025 season of The Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey at The F.M. Kirby Shakespeare Theatre on the campus of Drew University in Madison, New Jersey. The production runs from May 14 through June 1, 2025.
Director Brian B. Crowe brings Oscar Wilde’s wicked wit to the main stage with one of the playwright's beloved comedic works. Critics have hailed it as “the funniest play ever written” because of its satirical nature, clever use of farce, and sharp dialogue between characters. Wilde's ability to playfully blend truth and falsehoods with a touch of absurdity contributes to the play’s enduring popularity.
Crowe, who describes himself as a “huge fan of Oscar Wilde,” loves the high comedy, scathing social commentary, and extravagant characters that the playwright created in this piece. “The Importance of Being Earnest” is just a delightful afternoon or evening at the theater,” says Crowe. “I think right now we all need a little bit of time to laugh in this world, and I think this is a perfect show to do that with.”
STNJ Artistic Director Brian Crowe Headshot. Courtesy of STNJ.
Double dual identities, a domineering matriarch, and a mysterious handbag spark hilarious confusion in this play, which pokes fun at Victorian society (British culture during the reign of Queen Victoria) and the self-importance of the upper class. The play follows the hilarious antics of Algernon and Jack, two wildly eligible bachelors who will attempt anything to escape the constraints of Victorian social norms in their pursuit of love, marriage, and happiness.
The meaning of earnest is multifaceted in the play. While on the one hand, it refers to the name Ernest, on the other hand, it describes the qualities of being sincere, honest, and serious. Wilde’s title emphasizes the irony of the characters' behavior, as they all pretend to be earnest while secretly engaging in deceit and frivolity. “The Importance of Being Earnest” exposes the hypocrisy and superficiality of the time the play is set, which is 1895, the same year it first premiered on the stage.
Wilde’s comic masterpiece is peppered with an array of eccentric characters and seasoned with biting social commentary. One of the most popular playwrights in London during his lifetime, Wilde is also best known for his 1891 Gothic horror novel, “The Picture of Dorian Gray.”
When it comes to his approach to the play as a director, Crowes says, “the most important thing is to honor what the playwright has given us. We, as a theater company, have the great honor of working with these classics that have been around for so long because they still continue to speak to us. So, our job is to start off with that great work and tell the story that the playwrights intended with the lens of a modern perception.”
The Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey (STNJ) is the Garden State’s largest professional theatre company dedicated to Shakespeare's canon and other classic masterworks, serving roughly 75,000 adults and children annually. Although Crowe assumed the role of STNJ’s Artistic Director two years ago, his journey with the theatre started in 1986 when he was an intern. Over the years, he has worked his way up through the ranks.
Cast/Group Photo. (Left to right) Tug Rice, Celia Shaffer, Joyce MeiMei Zheng, Christian Frost. Courtesy of STNJ.
The diverse cast of STNJ’s production of “The Importance of Being Earnest” features Marion Adler, Richard Bourg, Christian Frost, Alvin Keith, Carolyne Leys, Tug Rice, Celia Shaffer, and Joyce MeiMei Zheng, with set design by Sarah Beth Hall and costume design by Austin Blake Conlee.
Despite the current climate, Crowe stresses that STNJ is not shying away from representing diversity and inclusion. “I think it's vital that audiences see themselves on stage. So, whenever we can, and when it's appropriate for the show, we’re reflecting back the audience that we're seeing in the theatre,” he says. “Too many people still believe that the classics are for ... a bunch of old dead white guys, and that's all it's about. And it's not.”
With Wilde’s play, Crowe believes “the deliciousness of the humor, the excitement and passion of the story, the struggles of the characters, and the triumphs of the characters are true regardless of what generation or what world you're in.” Even with the “sandalous nature of the show and all that happens in the play, “The Importance of Being Earnest’ is certainly family-friendly,” assures Crowe.
Exposing young people to the “classics” is demonstrated by STNJ’s compelling arts education programs and the shows its sets on tour like Shakespeare LIVE! These tours are meant to make Shakespeare accessible and appealing for students and educators alike.
“The work we do is far from museum piece theater,” says Crowe. A Museum Theatre piece is typically a scripted drama, often performed for educational purposes, that takes place in a non-traditional setting like a museum or art gallery. “What we do is vibrant, alive, and immediate,” asserts Crowe.
What can New Jersey audiences expect from coming to see the STNJ’s “The Importance of Being Earnest” production? “It is a play of action and excitement and intrigue, scandal and wickedness in a good, fun way,” Crowe adds. “Everyone who sees it will have a great time. Even if you're not sure about theater or you have never gone to the theatre, this is the one play to come check out.”
The performances of “The Importance of Being Earnest” will take place Tuesdays – Sundays at 7:30 PM; Saturdays, Sundays, and select Wednesdays at 2:00 PM. Tickets range from $44 to $82 and are available for purchase online, in person at the venue, or over the phone by calling the STNJ Box Office at 973-408-5600.
To view offers for special events and special ticket offerings during the run of “The Importance of Being Earnest,” visit the show’s site here.
