Would a man named Ernest by any other name be as earnest? This is a question that plagued me when seeing the UMD Theater Department’s first production of the season “The Importance of Being Earnest.” 

The last of his four drawing-room plays, Oscar Wilde’s “The Importance of Being Earnest” is self-described as a “trivial comedy for serious people.” The play stylishly satirizes the upper class and romantic comedy tropes of Wilde’s time while enchanting us with characters whose happy ending we cheer for.

Taking place in 1909 England, the play follows the tangled affairs of two young men who lead double lives to evade unwanted social obligations — both using the name Ernest — while wooing the two young women they desire.

I knew from before the show even started that I was gonna to enjoy it; a smile instantly appeared on my face when the opening music played. I felt like Nicole Kidman in the AMC Theaters “We Make Movies Better,” commercial - ready to experience the emotions that live theater brings out in us. 

My expectations were high for this production as I really enjoyed the Theatre Department’s production of “Sense and Sensibility” last fall, which was another comedic play that took place pre-21st century. 

In act one, the pacing of the story felt a little slow and I wasn’t entirely hooked onto it quite yet, but eventually I grew to enjoy the show as we moved into acts two and three. This was probably due to the fact that there seemed to be more humor and physical comedy as the play progressed. 

As usual, I was very impressed with the acting talents of these performers. Each individual really embodied their character and made them unique in their own way with their mannerisms, body language and posh sounding voices that would make the word “indubitably” sound like an every-day-word .

My two favorite characters were Gwendolen Fairfax and Lady Bracknell. The actresses who played these roles, the night I saw the show, stood out to me as if they could really be those characters in real life. To me, they truly took their characters to heart. The performance of Lady Bracknell gave a little bit of Maggie Smith inspiration. 

The comedic timing throughout the show and the chemistry between the characters made for what seemed to be great organic interactions between the characters. A small example being Jack and Algernon’s handshake and exchanges of looks in act two were played out very well; something you’d see between actual friends. 

Another great duo of characters was Gwendolen and Cecily Cardew. Their rollercoaster of their relationship and feelings towards each other over the course of a comically short period of time made for a great bit throughout acts two and three. 

I appreciated the running jokes throughout the play, such as the girls mentioning that they only like the name “Ernest,” and wouldn’t want to be in a relationship with someone by another name. (This joke makes more sense when you see the play). 

Another element that also made this a great production is having the actors stay in character between scene changes. When the cast and crew would change sets between acts, they were dressed as housekeepers and servants, keeping the illusion that they were characters in this story that were simply doing their duties. 

In typical fashion, I was also impressed with the costumes, set designs and props that made the show seem like it really was 1909. I also loved that they used real food and beverages in the show, which just makes it even more believable. I’m curious if the actors ever get tired of eating the cucumber sandwiches? 

I would tell you more in-depth about this play, especially the unpredictable twist at the end, but if you wanna know more, I highly recommend you go see it for yourself. And perhaps it may leave you asking yourself “why is it important to be earnest?” 

I applaud all the actors, technicians, production staff, stagehands and everyone involved with this play. “The Importance of Being Earnest” runs through Saturday, October 19. For information about upcoming shows at UMD, check the full season schedule on their website.