Outdoor staging of The Importance of Being Earnest at Manor Gardens, Exmouth

Lively antics as The Pantaloons Theatre stage The Importance of Being Earnest. Picture: Paul Bullivant (Image: Paul Bullivant)

Oscar Wilde’s best-loved comedy, The Importance of Being Earnest, gets a contemporary twist in this outdoor performance at Manor Gardens, Exmouth, on Thursday, August 30.

Cecily and Gwendolen both want to marry a man named Ernest. The trouble is, the only Ernest in their circle is the fictional black-sheep brother of the man hoping to marry Gwendolen, Jack, who uses Ernest as an alibi whenever he wants an excuse to escape his responsible life and visit London. Farcical situations develop when Jack’s friend Algernon impersonates Ernest to win Cecily’s favours, just as Jack has decided to pretend his brother has died.

The company staging the production, The Pantaloons, aim to bring energy and playfulness back to classical theatre. In addition to the witty Wildean lines of the play, they have introduced snappy songs and other new touches.

The play starts at 7pm. Adult tickets are £13.30 under 16s £8. Bring a chair and a picnic, and enjoy the fun.

The Imporrtance of Being Earnest, Pantaloons Theatre. Picture: Paul Bullivant (Image: Paul Bullivant)

Interaction with the audience as The Pantaloons Theatre stage their interpretation of The Imporrtance of Being Earnest. Picture: Paul Bullivant (Image: Paul Bullivant)