On Oct. 31, Ashland University’s Department of Theatre will present Oscar Wilde’s, “The Importance of Being Earnest.” 

Directed by AU professor, Teresa Durbin-Ames, the first performance will take place on Thursday, Oct. 31 at 7:30 p.m. There are also shows on Friday Nov. 1 at 7:30 p.m., Saturday Nov. 2 at 7:30 p.m., and Sunday Nov. 3 at 2:00 p.m. The event will be held in the Studio Theatre at The Center for the Arts Building on campus.  

“The Importance of Being Earnest,” a “Trivial Comedy for Serious People,” was originally published in 1895.  

The play takes place in London and tells the story of two men, Jack Worthing, and Algernon Moncrieff. Both men assume fictional identities to escape obstacles in their social lives. Algernon creates a friend named Bunbury, while Jack invents a brother named Earnest.  

Senior, Leanna Uselton, will be playing the honorable Gwendolen Fairfax in the show. As the ideal aristocratic woman, and the love of Jack Worthing’s life, Uselton has a very prominent role in the production.  

Uselton is also taking part in the production of the show as a dramaturg, the person in charge of the show’s research, as well as being the dialect coach.  

“The language is beautiful, it’s very witty, and it’s considered to be one of the most well-known comedic plays of all time, which is fantastic to be apart of it,” said Uselton. 

Tickets to the show can be purchased online, at Ashland.edu or in person at the AU Campus Store during typical business hours.