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Curtain up: Theatre Roanoke College brings Oscar Wilde comedy to life

February 23, 2023

Cast members pose on stage in various embraces during a dress rehearsal

A trivial comedy for serious people is how Oscar Wilde’s most enduring play, “The Importance of Being Earnest,” is often billed.

The playwright applied his wit to a farcical love story that spurs two characters to fall head over heels for Earnest Worthing — a man who doesn’t actually exist. The production can be seen onstage now at Olin Hall Theater where students will be putting on nightly performances from Feb. 23-25.

Scroll through the gallery below to learn more about the cast including some of their favorite lines from the Wilde classic.

“The Importance of Being Earnest,” directed by Fine Arts lecturer Danielle Barre, is a production of Theatre Roanoke College. The show will be performed at 7:30 p.m. Feb. 23-25 at Olin Hall Theater. Tickets are $7 for general admission or free to anyone with a Roanoke College ID. Tickets can be purchased in advance by calling 540-375-2333 or emailing boxoffice@roanoke.edu.

In The Spotlight

An actor kneels on one knee and grasps the hand of another actor during a scene

Ronek Chatwal ’26 is debuting in his first Theatre Roanoke College show and tackling one of the production’s lead roles, protagonist Jack Worthing. His favorite memory from rehearsals? “When we had to start a scene over like a million times because I kept cracking up at the look on Matt [Scott]’s face.”
An actor brandishes a chair at another actor during a scene

Hard to fault Ronek for breaking when Matt Scott ’26 is bringing emotion like this to his scene work. Scott, a theatre education major, said the razor-sharp wit of the play is what makes it such a special production. His favorite line? “I’ve never seen someone take so long to dress, and with such little result.”
An actor opens her eyes wide in surprise during a scene

Kennedy Swineford ’26 said the show was genuinely hilarious to rehearse. The cast kept up the madcap energy by playing charades with each other across the wings. Her favorite line of the script? “I nearly always talk at the same time as other people!”
An actor smiles while cooling herself with a small handheld fan during a scene

Heather Lowery ’26 said she’s having a great time throwing herself into her first Theatre Roanoke College show. The script line that most stands out in her memory? “I am a celibate, madam!”
Two actors smile and lean toward one another while talking during a scene

Theatre major Emy Hampton ’24 (left) said she hopes comedy lovers will come out to share a laugh with the cast. Her character's standout line? “I am quite fond of being looked at.”
Side-by-side images depicting two different scenes. In one, an actor clutches a hat to his chest. In another, an actor dressed as a mustachioed butler enters.

Left photo: Theatre education major Jake Dellinger ’24 isn’t a newcomer to Theatre Roanoke College productions but said it’s always a memorable moment when the cast does it first, full run-through of a new show. Which celebrity does he think would be a perfect fit for his character of Rev. Canon Chasuble? Michael Caine, of course. Right photo: Jackie Santomero '24 pulls double duty in the play in the dual roles of butler Lane and butler Merriman. 
An actor gazes at a scene partner with a disapproving stare

Mary Langan ’26 served as stage manager for last semester’s production of “Blood Wedding” and is now jumping to the other side of the curtain in the role of the hoity-toity Lady Bracknell. The psychology major’s favorite line from the script? “Never speak disrespectfully of Society, Algernon. Only people who can’t get into it do that.”
A backstage crew member monitors a computer while listening to others through a headset

In addition to the cast, students are hard at work behind the scenes managing the show and making sure it goes off without a hitch.
Members of the wardrobe crew, many wearing tiaras, pose next to dressing mannequins backstage

That includes the costume department, seen here with visiting assistant professor Audrey Hamilton, and their own twist on the idea of a team uniform: eye-catching tiaras.
The cast stand next to one another onstage and gesture during a curtain call

Theatre Roanoke College isn't done yet! To learn more about its next production and the program itself, visit roanoke.edu/theatre or follow it on Instagram.