Media release from Village Scene Productions.
For immediate release.

Montreal, July 17th 2009.

Village scene Productions returns this summer with another comedy ripe for the summertime.

Davyn Ryall, artistic director of Village Scene Productions (VSP), is proud to announce the program of a 9th season of production of gay themed theatre. The company will present two classical plays by two gay icons in English literature: One from England entitled “BUNBURY” -Oscar Wild's “The Importance of Being Earnest ”, and the other from the United States, Tennessee Williams' “SUDDENLY, LAST SUMMER” . After the great critical and box office success last summer of “ Bathhouse: The Musical ”, Davyn Ryall delves into the realm of absurdity for a second time and comes back with a grand piece of literature drawn from the Wildian repertoire, the irresistibly captivating text, “The Importance of Being Earnest” .

Celebrating his 15th year of artistic life this season, Davyn Ryall has been toying a long time with the idea of presenting Oscar Wilde's masterpiece of a play. “The Importance of Being Earnest”. at the heart of the summer season. Fascinated by Oscar Wilde's vivid spirit, Davyn Ryall has attempted to stay as close as possible to the four act original text with endless subtleties. The four-act version of this radically absurd play, which was arguably in some respects written well ahead of its time, is filled to the brim with summertime fun and now with the tasteful addition of some entertaining dance and lively music. -Not without a certain contrast, it proposes moreover a new sparkling translation of this comedy ever-so popular over 100 years after its creation, and adapted to the flavour of the day by locating the action in Montreal in the year 1929, while still keeping the spirit of its original era, the Victorian England of the 19th century.

“The Importance of Being Earnest” (“L'Importance d'être Constant”), the last play written by Oscar Wilde (born in Dublin on October 16 th 1854 - deceased in Paris on November 30 th 1900) is considered as one of the most spirited plays and to be the panicle of English wit in the English language. It has been translated into a number of international languages with at least eight French translations, a countless number of adaptations, three film versions, and remains one of the most performed comedies in the world.

The story is that of two young men of the high society who invent themselves imaginary characters to escape their mundane obligations… They name this diversion ‘Bunburism'. In their boldness, the two young ravishing beauties with whom the two men fall in love have the fantasy of marrying a man with the name of ‘Earnest' / ‘Constant'. In the course of many events, the two friends will eagerly do what they must to reach their purpose. It's a praise of our ability to not let reality take a hold of us, to open imagination's door and to reinvent a life. All the characters live in fiction to bypass the weight of society that stops them from being who they want to be. They invent for themselves the character of ‘Bunbury', a fantasy that becomes more real than reality itself! Is ‘Bunburism', according to Wilde, a code word meaning something else? Has this literary genius, renowned for manipulating the English language to create a metaphor, created a new word for an alternative life style, homosexuality, appearing unacceptable during the conservative era in which he lived in?

There is an important social critique in this still up-to-date text: this absence of sincerity, the obsession of the appearances in a society where money runs everything. In reality, Oscar Wilde lived in a society in which it was difficult to be sincere. He spent his life obliged to hide his true sexual orientation -homosexuality. His reaction was: “ with important and grave things, it is not sincerity that counts but, style ” as said by one of the characters in this play. And yet, this ‘social comedy' written by the creator of “A Woman Without Importance” and “The Ideal Husband” does not lack vividness. Wilde is the ultimate dealer of ambiguity. Originally titled “A Trivial Comedy for Serious People”, this play reveals Wilde's ingenuity with the art of dialogue and the architecture of the piece. The characters of this play are irresistible, such candor in vanity has never before been seen, such seriousness in superficiality…And curiously, the lies, the fantasies and the appearances are all revealed here, ultimately, more real than reality.

Here is an excellent occasion to discover or rediscover the spirit, the irony and the impertinence that have created Oscar Wilde's reputation. It's the comedy of happiness…At the begin of the last century, an entire European society lived in security and care-freeness. Oscar Wilde was the one who wrote the best of the taste of amusement, of the lightness, of the laughter of an entire egoistically happy social class. This way of living and its pleasure outburst throughout the play, which is certainly the most joyous comedy by the great Irish playwright. Somewhat less humorus is what happened to Wilde however. He suffered a dramatic downfall within days of the opening of this play in London. He was arrested and much public scandal surrounded his turbulent life. -The West-End theatre even removed his name from the marquee credit for fear of losing their audience. He was later found guilty and imprisoned for two years of hard-labour after being convicted of ‘gross indecency' with other men. When Wilde was released from prison he was very ill and immediately set sail for France where he died a few years later.

Passing from an immense stage to a small stage at Theater Sainte Catherine, the director is delighted to remount this play with the participation of a professional team of nine local actors which include: Elsa Perez in the role of the matriarch Lady Bracknell, Chris Nachaj incarnates the dandy Brit, Algernon Montcrieff, Marc-André Poulin accurately interprets the role of Jack Worthing, and Jessica Hill that of Jack's endearing intended Gwendolen Fairfax; In the role of Jack's charming niece is the attractive and seductively enticing Kristina Sandev (“A Queer Carol”/”Conte de noel flyé”); And Aleksandra Lipskaia is the dutiful-ditsy Miss Prism, and Simon Chaussé is the pious Reverend Chasuble. Jonathan Marquis plays double roles, Algernon's sub-serviant Lane and the bailiff Gribsby; Stephane Turgeon rounds out the cast as Jack's man-servant, Merriman. The actors play the text with fervor and caricaturize their characters with bravado.   

After incessant events and a whirlwind ‘theatrical' journey , sometimes taking the form of vaudeville and musical theater, everything will end well! Everything in this hymn to cheerfulness and youth is ‘rainbow coloured', in this land of smiles and laughter and seems to be made for fantasy. As in comedy, it is important that life be beautiful. Ah, how nice theater was! Well, ‘Happy Times' are here again! And now, Oscar Wilde's ‘gayest' comedy comes back, for our jubilation! Come join us and share this great joy with us.

BUNBURY : L'importance d'être Constant / The Importance of Being Earnest
Presented in French (F) & English (E), by Oscar Wilde.

Tickets: $10. to $20. General seating. Wheel chair accessible.
Available in advance at: PRIAPE, 1311 Ste-Catherine E. 514 521-8451 www.priape.com
PRIDE, 460 Ste-Catherine W. #303. 514 903-6193
Groups and information contact: PVSP tickets@villagescene.com 514 656-3420.

Previews: Tickets: $10. in advance, $15. at the door.
Monday, August 10th 9pm (F) L'importance d'être Constant;
Tuesday, August 11th 9pm (E) The Importance of Being Earnest;
Wednesday, August 12th 3pm (E) The Importance of Being Earnest; &
  9pm (F) L'importance d'être Constant;

*Premiers: Tickets: $15. in advance, $20. at the door.
Thursday, August 13th 3pm (F) L'importance d'être Constant &
9pm (E) The Importance of Being Earnest;
*Benefit performances for Montreal Pride Celebrations.

Performances: Tickets: $15. in advance, $20. at the door.
Friday, August 14th 3pm (F) L'importance d'être Constant; &
9pm (F) L'importance d'être Constant;
Saturday, August 15th 3pm (F) L'importance d'être Constant; &
9pm (E) The Importance of Being Earnest;
Added performance - Sunday, August 16th (F?E) TBA.

Village Scene Production intentions:

The four act version of this radically absurd irresistible comedy is now set in 1929 Montreal, ripe with summer fun and the added flair of some entertaining dance and catchy music. Presented in English and French. Eleven (11) performances August 10 - 16 at Theatre Saint-Catherine, 264 Ste-Catherine E. Presented as an associate event of the third edition of the Montreal Pride Celebrations (August 13 – 16, 2009.)

Featuring nine of Montreal's own local bilingual professional talents: Simon Chaussé (Dr. Rev. Chausable) Jessica Hill (Gwendolyn Fairfax) Aleksandara Lipskaia (Miss Prism) Jonathan Marquis (Lane, & Mr. Gribsby) Chris Nachaj (Algernon Moncrieff) Elsa Perez (Lady Bracknell) Marc-André Poulin (Jack Worthing) Kristina Sandev (Cecily Cardew) Stephane Turgeon (Merriman).

Directed by Davyn Ryall. Adapted by Davyn Ryall; Costume coordination by Davyn Ryall & Kristina Sandev; Choreography consultant Gerry Pitt; Photography by Jonathan Abenhaim; Graphic illistartion by acmddesign; Make-up design by Melanie Ann Fallnbigl.

PVSP produces in both French and English language, gay themed theatre since 2000. PVSP uses drama to effect change on society and to combat in the fight against homophobia. PVSP is a non-profit theatre company, unfunded by government grants, and functions only with the support loyal volunteers, donations received from independent sponsorship, and tickets sales. PVSP thanks the Fondation Émergence for their continued support over the past five years.

PVSP, brings together young, emerging talent and established, veteran artists, and develops new work and revitalizes existing material with dramatic potential. Known as the producers of the International LGBT Theatre Festival La Récolte / Harvest for five seasons, other past achievements include two previous bilingual productions: “ A Queer Carol / Conte de noel flyé ” (2007) and “ William & James ” (2006), which also played off-Broadway in 2007. Last summer, audiences will remember the astonishing critical and box office success of   “ Bathhouse: The Musical!” which performed to sold out audiences at both Montreal & Ottawa Pride Week Celebrations and raised over $1,700. for local charities . This production of Bunbury marks the 5 th French production since 2002: “ Mauvais Match” 2002, 2004; 4.48 Psychose 2005; “ William & James” 2006; and “ Conte de noel flyé” 2007.

This season the focus is principally on existing classical literary material produced with a new perspective on the treatment, -plays that feature strong iconic female characters, and casting a range of new to veteran talent. In September, VSP will present the controversial psychological thriller “ Suddenly, Last Summer ” by Tennessee Williams. It opened off-Broadway in 1958, was then made into the multi-Oscar nominated film that opened fifty years ago, the screenplay was also co-penned by Williams. -Yet this play has never been produced on a local stage. Montreal audiences will finally get to see something unexpected with this very special production of this American literary classic.