A slightly renovated rendition of "The Importance of Being Earnest" was brought to center stage at the Lee Center Wednesday night.

Originally written during the Victorian era, director Ki Gottberg brought the play to the roaring ‘20s to make it more relatable to the issues we face today.

The crowd was definitely roaring with laughter throughout the comedy, but the importance of the shift in time period didn't come through quite as clear as the comedy. Although the glamour of 1920s fashion did add a much appreciated looseness in the costume choices and hairstyles, it could have been just as relatable with the Victorian corsets and parasols instead of the bobs, lace-up ballets flats, and feathered headbands.

However, the intention to "examine what is trivial and what is earnest in our lives" was well understood by the audience.

The witty lines of Algernon and Jack as well as the silly antics of Cecily were showstoppers in their frivolity and hilarity, as well as the outrage of the characters over matters of studying, cucumber sandwiches and central to the play, the name of one's beau.

As far as the cast goes, Gottberg did an excellent job.

Gerald Grisette as Jack was wonderful, especially when choking Algernon for his bunberrying adventure to his own secret country house. Gwendolyn too was amazing, looking exactly like a young Barbra Streisand. She embodied the glamour of the 1920s as well as portraying some excellent vogue-ing in her entrances on stage as well as scene partner Kate Wisniewski as Lady Bracknell

The audience adored Meme Garcia as Cecily, drawing lots of laughter for her outstanding, physical, flamboyant performance, flinging herself about the stage in fits of lovelorn swooning.

Michael Notestine as Algernon took time to grow on the audience. Although not at once loved, by the end of the play his dry humor and ability to deliver witty lines with a snippy attitude ended up being an absolutely perfect fit for Algernon's character. Notestine seemed like he was born to play this role, irking out each snarky witticism tucked away in Wilde's words.

The play went smoothly even amidst a three-minute stage change as directed by stage manager Ryan Gelksey. It definitely says something when even a gaping scene change does not break up the hilarity of the play.

The production kept everyone on their toes as the characters, frustrated and love stricken, strove to marry their prospective partners and wallow through the binding formalities that guide society. "The Importance of Being Earnest" is sort of proto-Bravo TV. Wilde's play is full of societal humor, scandal, and talk about love and marriage (and the follies of both). Luckily for everyone, it's way better than Bravo. The fact that Wilde's script is still hilarious a century later is a testament to his genius. The word bunberry will pretty much always be funny.

Kate may be reached at kgilbert@su-spectator.com