Dazzling wordplay, comic invention, sparkling dialogue, improbable plot twists, mistaken identities, and a sprinkling of romance–Sterling High School Theatre’s winter play, “The Importance of Being Earnest” has it all.
The play, written in 1895 by playwright Oscar Wilde, is considered one of the funniest plays in the English Language. The Sterling High School production will be presented at 7:30 p.m. on this Thursday and Saturday in the school’s theatre.
The “Trivial Comedy for Serious People,” as Wilde subtitled “Earnest,” skewers social customs and the obsession with keeping up appearances and social status making it no less relevant today than it was in Victorian times.
“The Importance of Being Earnest” features dashing men-about-town John Worthing, played by Sterling High senior Kash Farney, and Algernon Moncrieff, senior Zack Brashear, who pursue fair ladies Gwendolyn Fairfax, played by junior Kandra Pattison and Cecily Cardew, played by junior Mac Thrasher.
Matters are complicated by the imaginary characters invented by both men to cover their on-the-sly activities - not to mention the disapproval of Gwendolyn’s mother, the formidable Lady Bracknell, played by senior Maren Robson.
Junior Solomon Dold will play dual roles of country butler Merriam and city butler Lane. Junior Cameron Fair will be kind-hearted Reverend Chasuble with Megan Schroeder as the dim-witted nursemaid Miss Prism.  
The classic comedy is being directed by Sterling High School theatre director Betsy Dutton, who is also designed costumes for the Victorian era show. Set and lighting elements are being designed and constructed by Sterling College student Phillip Taylor.
Tickets for the Sterling High School production of “The Importance of Being Earnest” are $5 for adults and $4 for students and will be available at the door before each performance.