BWW Previews: THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING EARNEST Comes to Just Off Broadway Theater

The Journeyman Theatre Company kicks off their 2014 season on Tuesday February 12 with The Importance of Being Earnest, a Trivial Comedy for Serious People, by Oscar Wilde. The play first appeared in 1895 at the St. James's Theatre in London. The popular play introduces the audience to Jack and Algernon, both eligible bachelors, who adopt fictitious personalities in an attempt to escape obligations placed on them by Victorian society.

This classic comedy had a successful opening in 1895, but led to the downfall of Wilde. The son of the Marquess of Queensberry, Lord Alfred Douglas, was Wilde's undisclosed lover. Douglas intended to disrupt the opening night of the play, delivering a bouquet of rotten vegetables to the writer. Made aware of his homosexual relationship the Victorian public shunned him and he was imprisoned. Upon his release and in exile he published the play from Paris.

Ian R. Crawford not only directed the production but also designed the set and costumes for the Wilde farce produced on the stage of The Just Off Broadway Theater. Crawford has worked in San Francisco, New York and in Kansas City at the annual Fringe Festival. The Journeyman Theatre Company production features an all cross-gender casting with Zack Chaykin, Margaret Hanzlick, Heather Hare, Lucas T. McVey, Elissa Schrader, Justin Speer, Matt Sweeten, and Chelsey Tighe. The witty play includes mistaken identities, love angles, covert engagements, and abandoned babies to move the plot forward.

Journeyman Theatre Company describes the production as, "unique and lush!" A special Valentine's Day performance on February 14 marks the 119th anniversary of the show opening in 1895. Evening performances February 12 through 15 and February 19 through February 22 begin at 7:30 p.m. Two matinees will be performed on Sunday February 16 and 23 at 2:30 p.m.

Purchase tickets for The Importance of Being Earnest, a Trival Comedy for Serious People at boxofficetickets.com or call 800-494-8497. Just Off Broadway Theater is located at 3051 Central in Kansas City, Mo.

Logo courtesty of Journeyman Theatre Company.