VANTAGE
THEATRE 
--Diana Saenger, La Jolla Light
--The East County Californian
"The players are all outstanding!"
--San Diego Jewish Hertiage
"Don't miss Vantage Theatre's 'Earnest!'"
--Eileen Sondak
Directed by Dori Salois and Nanci Hunter
Music by Michael Rorah
Review by Diana Saenger
http://www.lajollanews.com/News/2002/July/Entertainment1995.shtml
Oscar Wilde's delightful comedy, "The Importance of Being Earnest," has charmed centuries of audiences with its humorous tale of affairs of the heart. The story has been adapted into many forms including a film. Vantage Theatre is currently staging their production of the hit as a musical, and on a scale of 1- 10, it's a 20.
All of the six cast members, five of them appearing with permission of the Actor's Equity Association , exhibit exceptional singing and acting talent. Direction by Dori Salois and Nanci Hunter is skillfully evident, pianis Rayme Sciaroni is excellent and the costumes by Bryan Schmidberger gorgeous.
Composer, writer and entertainer Ric Henry appears as Jack Worthing, a gent who keeps his reputation in tack in the country, but when off to the city, changes his name to Earnest Worthing so he can kick up his heels. His best friend, Algernon Moncrieff (Phil Johnson), is quite interested in Jack's devilish plan, but when he learns that Jack has a lovely young ward at his estate, Algernon conceives a plan to go for a visit and sweep Cecily Cadrew (Jill Lewis) off her feet.
Algernon is a cousin to Gwendolyn Fairfax (Debra Wanger), to whom Jack wishes to marry. But Gwendolyn's mother, Lady Bracknell (Jan Manos), will have no such thing, as Worthing is not in the same social status as she.
When everyone ends up at the countryside, hilarious encounters unfold. There are lies to explain, misunderstandings to clarify and secrets to unveil. And when both Gwendolyn and Cecily reveal they will only marry a man named "Earnest," both men are in trouble.
The play is done mostly in dialogue with only an occasional burst into song; and with the splendid and accomplished voices and the amazing arrangements, the music is a marvelous addition to the performances.
All the actors are seasoned professionals. Phil Johnson is fresh and lively in his comedic role. Henry adds an authentic sense of wonderment to his dilemma. Manos is the stern mother down to the core. Wanger captures just the right refinement and seduction in her ensnarement of Worthing, and her voice is fantastic. Jill Lewis is adorable and so perfect in her role as the sweet innocent romantic, but it's her powerful voice that is mesmerizing. Nanci Hunter (Miss Prism) and Alex Sandie (Merriman) are both quite good.
To add to the play's terrific entertainment value, Vantage Theater is collaborating with the Westgate Hotel to offer a dinner/theater package. The French Rivera cuisine dinner is served in Café Westgate and offers diners a choice of fresh broiled Atlantic Salmon or Roasted prime rib of beef. The dinner includes one of the delectable desserts that the Westgate is known for.
The extraordinary antique décor of the Westgate accentuates the play - all culminating in a most delightful evening.
| Singer/actor Ric Henry is happy to return to Vantage Theatre's production of The Importance of Being Earnest The Musical to reprise the title role. He has performed around the globe, with leading roles in Cabaret, West Side Story, Godspell, Jesus Christ Superstar, South Pacific, 42nd Street, The World Goes Round, Most Happy Fella, The Ritz. He also loves writing and composing for his entertainment company, R H Productions. |
| Phil Johnson: Broadway: Les Miserables. National tours: Sunset Boulevard (Canada), Les Miz and Miss Saigon. Locally: Pageant, American Rhythm, True West, Lounge Stories, Forever Plaid, Importance of Being Earnest, The Musical & The Holy Man (Vantage Theatre). L.A.: Say Cheese (Original solo show- Backstage West/Dramalogue Garland Award. H.M.); member- Theatre Neo. Phil also created a popular Chicago cabaret ('Boombala'), Fellow at The 1998 Eugene O'Neill Theater Center Cabaret Symposium. |
| Debra is happy to return to Earnest at the Westgate. San Diego audiences may recognize her from Gershwin's Gold/ Roger's Riches at LJ Stage Co. Carousel at the Welk or as Hesione in Triumph of Love. Regional credits include Fiorello ,Berlin to Broadway, H.M.S Pinafore, Man of La Mancha and Pirates of Penzance, The Fantastiks, Vampire Lesbians of Sodom, and Nine (three times!) Debra holds a B.A. from Tufts and MFA fromSDSU. |
| Jill is happy to make her Vantage Theatre debut as Cecily. San Diego audiences may remember her as Louisa in The Fantastick (Moonlight), Polly Browne in The Boyfriend (San Diego Comic Opera), Peggy Sawyer in 42nd Street (CCT), Laurey in Oklahoma (Welk Resort Theatre), and most recently Kim in Showboat also at the Welk. Other favorite roles include Maggie in A Chorus Line, Graziella in West Side Story. (Saddleback CLO) and Chava in "Fiddler on the Roof" (Musical Theatre West). |
| Jan is a veteran of over 200 shows as either actor, director,producer, or artistic director. As a member of actors Equity Assoc she has worked on the committee to create more professional venues for union performers here in San Diego. Jan is happy to reprise Lady Bracknell once again for Vantage Theatre. |
| Alex Sandie is president and cofounder of the San Diego Shakespeare Society. Local theatre credits include Polonius in Hamlet, Antonio in Tempest, Theseus in Midsummer Night's Dream ,Taming of the Shrew. Solid Gold Cadillac, Mousetrap, Merry Wives of Windsor, The Grass harp, Dracula, Somethings A Foot, Shadowlands Gigi and Brigadoon. |
| Nanci Hunter most recently has been the coordinator for the Calafia Initiative at the San Diego Rep, and speechwriter for SummerQuest AIDS/HIV Benefit 2002. She co-produced, directed and wrote satire and social commentary for The Euphonic Institute on KPBS for 5 years. With Dori Salois, she co-directed a workshop production of their musical "MacGregor" in London and collaborated with Vantage Theatre on the adaptation of "The Importance of Being Earnest-The Musical." |
Production Team
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Dori Salois has been the Artistic Director of Vantage for the past five years. Originally from the East Coast she has acted directed and produced in Theatre, Film and Television in New York, Washington D.C. and Los Angeles and was a founding member and resident director of the Provincetown Playhouse in New York. Locally she produced the award winning Andrea's Got Two Boyfriends for San Diego Rep, was the Associate Producing Director of NCRT, and was nominated as best actress in San Diego for Agnes of God. |
Jack G. Barefield, Executive Director of NewWorks/Vantage created this theatre 16 years ago. While in New York, Jack was a published Broadway playwright, head writer for NBC and CBS Studio One and a MCann Erikson creative radio and television executive. His adaptation of Virginia Woolf's The Waves has toured regionally. He was a professor of English and Drama for the Texas University system and holds a PhD from Florida State University.
Sally Stockton is the resident Technical Director and Lighting Designer for Vantage and 6th @ Penn. She coordinates Vantage's apprenticeship program and is an accomplished actor. Sally has designed for such diverse locations as The Diversionary, The Fritz, St. Cecilia's, Circus Earth, Grossmont Opera, Roosevelt JHS, Hoover HS, NCRT and Scripps Ranch HS. Her most challenging design to date was for the multimedia Vantage world premiere workshop of ORPHEUS ROX, at the World Beat Center in Balboa Park.
Michael T. Rorah has previously composed the music for Kiss Them and Wish Them Goodbye at the Hahn. Michael is a well-known keyboard artist and entertains on both coasts.
Rayme Sciaroni is originally from New York. He is one of the composers of the Off- Broadway show, Naked Boys Singing. He is an integral part of the Bravo for the Arts, San Diego Summer Fest and continues to enjoy refining and defining the music for Earnest.
Sylvia Lorraine, an accomplished pianist/ harpist and actor, recently starred in Hello Dolly at City College, and Into the Woods at Starlight. Audiences can see her at The Inn at the Park.
Bryan Schmidtberger, a veteran of 75 productions over 21 years, is also a talented singer, actor, musician, and self-proclaimed cultural refugee of Texas.
Cortney Garcia and Maureen Burdge are Drama students at Hoover High School. They have both performing and technical experience. Both excellent students, they each received the Governors scholarship award English (Courtney) Math & Science (Maureen).