…Earnest? at Lighthouse Poole Review
DISCLOSURE – TICKETS TO SEE THE SHOW WERE GIFTED TO THE REVIEWER AND GUEST FOR THE PURPOSES OF WRITING THE REVIEW
Reviewed by Mel S-W
You know when you’ve seen a show that’s not just good… it’s one of the best things that you’ve seen to date… well that’s how I feel about …Earnest? I’ve laughed, I’ve cried, I’ve supported some unexpected members of the audience possibly starting (or ending) their acting careers. The show has it all and I just want to tell everyone and anyone about it. …Earnest? is a must see show and I highly recommend it. So old, young (or on a date from Tinder) this show is for you!
…Earnest? arrives at the Lighthouse at the beginning of its tour and it doesn’t disappoint. Heading to the south coast straight from Edinburgh Fringe, where it will make its way to the West End. With opening night on 27th February there are three other opportunities to grab tickets.
I’ve seen the likes of Noises Off at the Lighthouse and I was a big fan so before I saw the show I already had big expectations. The show is described as being “completely different, completely chaotic, and completely Wilde every single night” and I can certainly see why.
The show opens and we are treated to the opening act of The Importance Of Being Earnest. The cast are running through the opening scene when the stage front door should ring… but it doesn’t. Where is Earnest? Chaos ensues, what are they going to do without a lead, can they continue or are we going home early? Simon the Director was on hand to find solutions until he looked to us, the audience, to fill the vacant position.
An unwitting Earnest was plucked from the audience and by the end of the show all cast members had a replacement for some reason. The original cast used some very clever acting skills and, with the support of hilarious (and sometimes not subtle) on stage directing, an actor who couldn’t deviate from their learnt lines and stage positionings and some hysterically funny comedic scenes. Needless to say the show had the audience creasing up with laughter. During the interval, conversations about how much someone had laughed or cried with laughter echoed around the foyer. The audience lapped it up!
The show is brought to us by Say It Again, Sorry. As a company they try to make their shows as interactive as possible with audience participation. They say they urge you to “be brave, book your tickets now, and we’ll promise you’ll have an experience that will stay with you forever the rest of your life” It was clear to see that they are very skilled at picking the right characters and it looked like so much fun and a night that people wouldn’t forget. People of ages were plucked from the audience. Some particularly funny selections were the young lady chosen to be the male vicar who giggled for a few minutes but the cast worked this into the show and an elderly gentleman who was cast as Lady Bracknell who read the page ahead in his script and confused everybody. Both were cheered on by the audience and were so funny just simply being themselves. I’m actually very jealous that I didn’t get picked.
I definitely would, and have already, recommended …Earnest? It was a masterclass in improv and was pure comedy. A massive round of applause to all the audience cast who were simply amazing. But congratulations to the Say It Again, Sorry cast who were able to produce such a great show with us mere mortals from the audience gracing the stage. With this show, there was no telling what kind of night it would be, it’s completely potluck. I’m keen to go back and see how the ‘new’ cast delivers it!
Rating: 5/5 (I would give more if I could!)!
Tickets start from £16.50
Tickets are available by calling the Box Office on 01202 280000 or online by visiting www.lighthousepoole.co.uk
The Lighthouse, 21 Kingland Rd, Poole, BH15 1UG