For an intimate, unadulterated theatrical experience, the Shoe Box
Theater is one of the best spaces in town. With the players hardly more
than a long arm’s reach from the audience, this isn’t the place to go
for majestic sets or astounding special effects. Rather, it’s a space
for absolute actor engagement and—as late director Garland Wright
put it—”the shared act of imagining between actor and
audience.”
Which makes it the perfect setting for Northwest Classical Theatre
Company (NWCTC) to present Oscar Wilde’s The Importance of Being
Earnest, a tale of upper-class vanity and ridiculous social
constructs. Directed by John Monteverde, Earnest is another
pared-down production by the Portland company dedicated to staging
“no-concept” classic and classical works.
NWCTC make a strong effort, but are ultimately bedeviled by the
details. A somewhat obvious (and conceptual) design choice places
mirrors along the upstage wall, drubbing the audience with the theme of
vanity—and giving the actors a set piece to interact with that
completely removes them from engagement onstage. Further, the British
accents are inconsistent at best and flatten even the best-intentioned
performances.
Rough-around-the-edges costumes and broken-down or anachronistic
props further detract from the audience’s ability to go along for the
ride. A girl scribbles in a purportedly well-loved diary that has
mostly empty pages. A rich woman’s parasol is in tatters. This theater
space is far too intimate to ignore torn, ill-fitting costumes and
poorly thought-out props.
Though the production is consistent if unremarkable, it does shine
brightly on occasion. A climactic argument over muffins in act two will
likely turn out to be one of the best-executed comic scenes on the
Portland stage this year. Much of the casting is strong: As Lady
Bracknell, Paige Jones thoroughly owns her character, and Sara Simon is
sharp and refreshing as Cecily Cardew. Bright spots like these make the
rough ones in NWCTC’s productions worth it. This is a company that
loves what they do, and loves sharing their work with appreciative
audiences—and that dedication shows. As the company’s success
grows, however, so should their attention to the smaller details.