Oscar Wilde at his best in new Stage Door production

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Posted: February 12, 2023

Oscar Wilde at his best in new Stage Door production

By Erin Knutson

First-time director Nathaniel Leigh treated guests to a delightfully modernized version of Oscar Wilde’s ‘The Importance of being Earnest’ at a special sneak peek at the Studio Stage Door in Cranbrook.

Sponsored by Cranbrook Community Theatre (CCT) and friends, Leigh managed to portray the musings of the upper crust of British society in contemporary England.

“I had to think of a way to make the show worth everyone’s time, which is when I realized Oscar had done half the work for me already by setting the show in the best place: The present.

After realizing that it had been less than two decades since the CCT had shown the play, Leigh decided he needed to put a twist on the production.

With this vision, Leigh created an engaging series of sets with his production team, conveying the message in a current setting.

“It was when I realized I could put the show in modern day that everything fell into place from there. I knew what I needed to make my version stand out,” he said.

Performances from a stellar ensemble cast including Benjamin Phillips, Jerrod Bondy, Jelena Jensen, Michael Prestwich, Kathleen Simon, Elena Hark, Amanda Casey and Patrick Baranowski entertained viewers with a peek into the antics and theatrics of Wilde’s characters and their colourful spectrum of issues and designs on life.

Introducing Producer Everett Olafson and Stage Manager Janice Marschner in their debut with CCT, guests were presented with the best in theatre.

For Olafson, this was a virgin attempt at producing a play.

“This is the first play he has produced, and he cannot wait for everyone to see the show,” stated CCT.

Leigh’s introductory directorship of one of Wilde’s most famous works does not disappoint, as patrons are invited to enjoy an evening of mirth, outrage, propriety, disaster and social graces mixed with the theme of courtship, one’s place in the world, family, and getting around potential in-laws.

“Imagine it’s Friday night, you are having dinner or just ate, and now you are sitting in front of the television with your family to watch something silly, and that’s where our show begins,” said Leigh.