Directed by Sebastian Cumming, the young players made the most of every comic opportunity, through physical antics and clever words alike.
In the leading roles of the four friends and star-crossed couples, Fen McIntosh (Jack), Rowan Metreyeon (Algernon), Gracie Fagerlund (Gwendolen) and Ella Verberne (Cecily) were top-notch throughout.
The two young gents were nicely goofy and clueless, while the two young ladies did a lovely line in archness as they strung them along.
Millabeene Turnbull was a hoot as the shrill and snobbish Lady Bracknell, while Riley McIntosh hilariously stole scenes as the dual butlers Merriman and Lane.
In a feat of inspired gender-swap casting, Ruairi O’Malley King and Sylvia Baeumer made a delightful pairing as Miss Prism and Dr Chasuble.
The cast kept the pace up and the quips coming thick and fast, moving well about the space to allow room for set and scene changes.
Designed by Cumming, the set was simple but effective, and the costumes by Christine and Shannon Colbert with Jemma Adams nicely evoked the era.
All in all, this debut outing of The Playhouse’s Watching The Crossing team, taking on one of the great classic comic plays, was a thoroughly enjoyable and entertaining theatre experience. It augurs well for the future.
