Comedy is timeless in Wilde's 'Earnest'

Never mind that Oscar Wilde's "The Importance of Being Earnest" takes place in 1895.

Students and audiences at Willowbrook High School in Villa Park are learning that the play's humor still stirs laughs.

Starting today through Saturday, Willowbrook will present "The Importance of Being Earnest," which launches the school's 2007-08 theater season that is completely based around comedies.

The play follows Jack (played by junior Tyler Baumann) and Algernon (sophomore Stephen Boyer), who bend the truth to add excitement into their lives. But their lies soon crumble and threaten to spoil their romantic pursuits.

English teacher and director Regina Wathier said she was eager to direct a comedy of manners like this, which focuses on social mores and conventions.

"The comedy really comes more from the words than from physical comedy," Wathier said. "A modern comedy of manners would be 'Frasier,' and anything by Wilde is a great example."

Still, Wathier initially worried that the play's themes and humor might be lost on today's high school students.

But preview audiences at the school proved her wrong.

"I thought, 'Oh gosh, are they going to understand the humor or think it's funny?" Wathier said. " And they love it so far.

"In reality, the scenes in this play about how others view us and the lies we tell ourselves to accomplish our goals or get through the day -- they all apply to high school life."

For more than six weeks, theater students have been delving into their characters to bring the humor to life. Wathier said that includes donning corsets and period shoes to help make their movement more authentic to 1890s England.

Later this year, student actors will shift their focus to learning physical comedy for shows like "A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum," which is scheduled for Feb. 7-9.

"Earnest" cast members are Tyler Baumann, sophomore; Rob Binder, junior; Stephen Boyer, junior; Hayley Camire, sophomore; Jake Carr, freshman; Rebecca Kloskowski, freshman; Carlos Kmet, junior; Jessica Rundell, senior; Devinne Stevens, senior.

If you go

What: 'The Importance of Being Earnest'

When: 7 p.m. Thursday through Saturday

Where: Willowbrook High School Doris White Auditorium, 1250 S. Ardmore Ave., Villa Park

Cost: $5 for adults; $4 for students and children, $2 for Willowbrook students with a school activity pass; free for senior citizens with a District 88 Gold Card

Details: (630) 530-3400