GLTF’s Producing Artistic Director Charles Fee, in charge of The Importance of Being Earnest, maintained a sprightly pacing, allowing the one-liners to proceed at a fun-filled gait, and the laughs merrily tumbled over each other. The casting was superb, although the characterizations were almost too mannered. As the two young dandies at the center of the play, Douglas Frederick as John (Jack) Worthing was suitably bewildered about his family tree, while David A. Smith as Algernon Moncrieff came within a hair of chewing up the scenery as well as all the available cucumber sandwiches or muffins, as available. Aled Davies made a substantial Aunt Augusta/Lady Bracknell, a role frequently played in drag.

Algy’s cousin, the Hon. Gwendolen Fairfax was given vibrant life by Laura Perrotta while Kelly Sullivan made a charming, if somewhat empty-headed Cecily Cardew, Jack’s ward. The supporting cast consisted of Lynn Robert Berg in the dual butler roles of the ancient Lane and suave Merriman, Wayne S. Turney as the slightly dithery Rev. Chausible and Nan Wray as the absent-minded Miss Prism.

Great Lakes utilized a set piece stage design by Gage Williams, which with suitably different trimmings for each act served as Algy’s drawing room and Jack’s country house garden or drawing room. Lighting by Rick Martin and Sound by Peter John Still enhanced the production without being especially noticeable (a very good thing) while the costumes of Kim Krumm Sorenson were simply smashing.

Once you understand that Mr. Fee believes Oscar Wilde to be the godfather to Monty Python, rather a lot of previous murk suddenly clears. Thus the rock music played (too loudly) during intermissions. Wilde himself may well have liked the concept, but it somehow jostled against the staid Victorian costumes and behavior. Nothing, however, can ruin Wilde’s wonderful words. To see Wilde at Great Lakes, playing in repertory through October 16, call the ticket office at 241-6000 or the web-site: http://www.greatlakestheater.org from Cool Cleveland contributor Kelly Ferjutz artswriter@core.com (:divend:)