Southwestern Adventist University’s English department will present Oscar Wilde’s The Importance of Being Earnest as this year’s annual play October 29-November 1 in the Wharton Auditorium with a special live-streamed show on October 31.
 
The romantic comedy is set in England during the Victorian-era and tells the story of two men living double lives. Jack Worthing and Algernon Moncrieff are two London aristocrats who disguise themselves as different people when they travel between the city and the country. As the story unfolds, audiences will be entertained by the play’s fun, witty humor and the satirical jabs it takes at Victorian era ideas of love and marriage. 
 
English professor and play director Renard Doneskey explained how he decided what play to perform this year. “I cycled through about six plays, all comedies. I choose comedies because people leave the theatre feeling really good and having had a good time.” What can audiences expect from this year’s play? “Super high class acting,” Doneskey says. “There’s a great actor in every part.”
 
This year one of the lead roles is being played by Bryan Barrera, an English graduate from the Class of 2020 who’s performed in two previous plays at SWAU. “The role of Jack excites me because I have never had a lead role before this one,” he says. “Plus, I am a big fan of Oscar Wilde and I’m excited to see where this play goes.”

We are proud to present this much anticipated production, originally scheduled for Spring of 2020. Join us live or online. The new dates for performances are: October 29 at 8 p.m., October 31 at 8 p.m., and November 1 at 8 p.m. All performances will be in the Wharton Auditorium of the Mabee Center on the Southwestern Adventist University campus and the October 31 performance will be live streamed here. 
Admission is free, but space is limited to provide for distancing. Attendees are required to wear a face covering.