The Importance of Being Earnest

Posted on by Thor

Thanks to a Facebook posting by Tracy Jane, I discovered a hidden gem of a theater up in my neck of the woods. The Hideaway Performing Arts Center (431 Plaza Drive Eustis Florida) is tucked away in a corner of a strip mall, only a half hour drive from my present art studio.

The theater is now owned by the Quinlan and Lucey families. John Lucey gave me a quick rundown of the theaters history when I arrived. Built in 1968, it was once the Eustis Plaza Theater with a large screen and then the theater was cut in half to allow for two much smaller screens that showed 99 cent movies. It was then converted into a live theater with a stage , but that theater did not survive the pandemic.

Eventually his friend Jim Quinlan jokingly said to John that he could help buy the theater. John had been a tech in the early days at the gorgeous 1935  Mediterranean Revival style Winter Garden Theater which has had to close. Unfortunately when it reopens, it will not feature live theater. John couldn’t get the idea out of his head of owning a theater and he and his wife decided to take the plunge. The place is amazing. You should really seek out the Hideaway.

The Importance of Being Earnest written by Oscar Wilde satirizes the hypocrisy and superficiality of British society. Superficial appearances are considered more important that true character. This is even more true in the social media age. Two high society bachelors, John Worthing and Algernon Moncrieff (Kyle Meehan, Brandon Boruch) were best friends but Algeron became possessive when his friend became obsessed with the beautiful Gwendolen (Lacy T. Patton). While the two bachelors argued, the servant, Lane (Steven Bechncke) would sneak a nip of the fine vintage wine. The acting was purposefully histrionic to add to the comedic flair of each scene. I felt like I had slipped back in time seeing a play staged in the 1920.

Since Gwendolen had such a preference for the name Earnest, John Worthing decided to let her believe that Earnest was his name. He would do anything to win her love. John had a ward which was the young and refined Cesily (Kayla Meyer). Algernon fell madly in love with her under the guise of also being Earnest. These changed identities and white lies ultimately lead to confusion and dire embarrassing consequences. One of the most comical scenes in the play came when Gwendolen and Cecily faced off over tea and cakes with them both thinking they were engaged to Earnest. Gwendolen tried to act refined but her fangs came out and and the sweet sleek Cecily held her own, but she initiated a food fight to great comic effect. Secrets and lies are not the bedrock for a strong relationship, but love finds a way.

There are only 2 performances left, get your tickets today.

Painting the Set

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I stopped into the Orlando Shakespeare Theater’s scenic shop to see the progress on the set for “The Importance of Being Earnest.” Things move fast in the scenic shop the entire set facade was build and ready to be painted in three pieces. Jeff Ferree and Adam were painting when I arrived. Robbin Watts was in the theater itself painting the floors. She created an impressive speckled marble effect with the paint. Another woman slapped the floor with a long rag. This was a painting technique that was new to me.

I got to see the completed set a few nights later at the Shakespeare Fundraising Gala. The impressive Victorian architecture helped set the mood for the scene that was previewed. Gwendolyn and Cecily met in an outdoor garden. They were instant, affable, eternal friends. As Gwendolyn said, “Something tells me that we are going to be great friends. I like you already more than I can say. My first impressions of people are never wrong.” Cecily responded, “How nice of you to like me so much after we have known each other such a comparatively short time.” I see this sort of flippant instant friendships all the time in this age of social networks. What makes the scene so endearing and funny is how these two women politely turn against each other when they discover they might be engaged to the same man. Gwendolyn had a turn of heart, “From the moment I saw you I distrusted you. I felt that you were false and deceitful. I am never deceived in such matters. My first impressions of people are invariably right.” I rely on my first impressions, usually gained over the course of a sketch to guide me on my daily travels.

I had painted the Mennello Museum mural all day. Libby Rosenthal let me know there was a shower in the museums basement so I spruced up only moments before the gala and then drove right across the street. The shower was divine after working in the hot parking lot all day. Then, I couldn’t turn off the hot water in the shower. The knob was stuck. I dressed quickly and ran to my truck for a screwdriver. My glasses fogged up as I struggled with the knob and my dress shirt got soaked. Thankfully, I finally managed to fix the knob. Even taking a simple refreshing shower is a drama in my struggle of a life.

At the Gala, I got to rub shoulders with Orlando’s rarefied socialites. Terry declared the evening an official date night, and I wasn’t on assignment, so for the sake of marital bliss, I kept my sketchbook tucked away. My fingers itched but I resisted temptation. My bag of art supplies rested heavily on my shoulder just in case. Though physically exhausted, I followed as Terry flitted about the room, a social butterfly. Art isn’t easy.

The Importance of Being Earnest runs through October 9th.

Orlando Shakes Scenic Shop

Posted on by Thor

Jeff Ferree suggested I stop by the Orlando Shakespeare Theater’s scenic shop. I wasn’t sure exactly where it was so I asked a woman at the ticket booth where it might be. She seemed unsure but suggested it might be behind the Goldman Theater. I wandered around a bit until I saw a woman whose clothing was spattered with paint. I asked her and she walked me back. Jeff was working on some wooden columns. Jeff introduced me to the other folks in the shop.

Work was being done to assemble the set for “The Importance of Being Earnest“. Jeff showed me the blue prints. The set resembled a British country estate with a quaint outdoor garden patio. I believe the set would allow for interior and exterior scenes. The play, written by Oscar Wild will run from September 14th through October 9th. The Red Chair Affair had a scene from the play where Ernest is asking a matronly British woman if he can marry her daughter. The matron was played by a man in an ostentatious red gown. He, she held a notebook checking items off her list as she interrogated the suitor about his credentials. Things seemed to go well until he reveled that he had been found in a basket at a railway station. Shocked, she advised him to find a family immediately. The scene was hilarious, pointing out the silly notion that your family name is the only thing of importance when establishing ones station in life.

Ron was at a large work table and he mounted a router blade to the machine. Large boards needed a slot routered down the center. Jeff showed me where to get ear plugs since the shop was going to get loud. The ear plugs had flames printed on them. When the router fired up I stuffed the plugs in my ears and started sketching.