This year, the upper school play is The Importance of Being Earnest. Auditions for the play were held January 18th and 19th. Following auditions, the cast list was released, and rehearsals for the play started the week of January 24. With the hard work and determination of students and faculty involved, the play is sure to be entertaining. The entirety of the Barstow community should see it.

Chase Rothhaas (‘24), states, “I feel that the play is a wonderful way to display English culture in a way that is humorous but not ignorant about the culture. I had read the play back in the fall for English class and found it humorous and was excited to act in a live performance.”

Because of Covid-19, the theater community has had to face many obstacles. From the fear of not being able to perform due to the possibility of quarantine, social distancing on stage, and wearing masks while performing, the challenges of performing have multiplied. The Barstow community should reward the theater community for facing these challenges by seeing The Importance of Being Earnest. Those who wish to do so can buy tickets for March 3rd, 4th, or 5th.

The Importance of Being Earnest is set in 19th century London. Originally a play by Oscar Wilde, it follows a young man named Jack Worthing. Jack falls in love with his best friend Algernon’s cousin Gwendolyn. Despite Gwendolyn’s disapproving mother, Lady Bracknell, the two fall in love. However, Gwendolyn states she could only love someone named Earnest, causing Jack to adopt the alias Earnest Worthing. At Jack’s home in the country, his ward Cecily Cardew lives with her governess. Algernon falls in love with Cecily, but she also states she could never love anyone who was not named Earnest, causing him to also adopt the alias Earnest Worthing. Conflict occurs, and the men find themselves in quite the tobaccle. 

This year, the play is made up of many talented Barstow actors and crew members. Rothass (‘24), who is playing Mr. Gribsby, believes that, “Although I have participated in eleven shows now, this is definitely one of my favorite casts.” 

Students will be involved in a variety of roles:

The Barstow School is fortunate to have such a devoted theater community. In a little over a month, members of the cast and crew for The Importance of Being Earnest will be ready to perform in front of the entirety of the Barstow community. Countless hours of hard work goes into making this production possible. Without the dedication of cast members, crew members, and the director, it would not be possible to perform in such a short amount of time.

The Barstow community should show their support for the theater by watching a performance of The Importance of Being Earnest. Barstow’s theater community has faced many difficulties in the midst of Covid-19. Fortunately, the students and faculty involved have not allowed obstacles to prevent them from performing when possible.