The Importance of Being Earnest
Mon, 12 July 2004, 09:13 pmWalter Plinge13 posts in thread
The Importance of Being Earnest
Mon, 12 July 2004, 09:13 pmThe 'Importants' of Being Earnest are that it wasn't all that important!!
Seriously though, we didn't go with the intention of pulling it to bits, suffice to say, elasticated mens boots weren't invented in those
days, nor were stiletto heels and black stockings and I'm not entirely sure that plastic ivy all over your garden was either, and one certainly didn't pretend to water ones plastic roses with pretend water from a tiny child's watering can. My partner tells me that at some point Cecily says she's going to water the roses, however, they look suspiciously
like azaleas.
Ernest looked uncannily like David Coulthard and as for Gwendoline, she appeared to be a little unsure of what accent she was supposed to be using as it seemed to vary from plum-in-the-mouth English to strange French!!
By the way, on the photo display out in the foyer, a certain K Wallace is listed as 'Gendoline' and the programme lists a character as 'Earnest Worthing J.P.' Surely that should be Ernest although perhaps they were being a little too Earnest.
Apart from all that, it wasn't too bad really and well worth the effort.
Seriously though, we didn't go with the intention of pulling it to bits, suffice to say, elasticated mens boots weren't invented in those
days, nor were stiletto heels and black stockings and I'm not entirely sure that plastic ivy all over your garden was either, and one certainly didn't pretend to water ones plastic roses with pretend water from a tiny child's watering can. My partner tells me that at some point Cecily says she's going to water the roses, however, they look suspiciously
like azaleas.
Ernest looked uncannily like David Coulthard and as for Gwendoline, she appeared to be a little unsure of what accent she was supposed to be using as it seemed to vary from plum-in-the-mouth English to strange French!!
By the way, on the photo display out in the foyer, a certain K Wallace is listed as 'Gendoline' and the programme lists a character as 'Earnest Worthing J.P.' Surely that should be Ernest although perhaps they were being a little too Earnest.
Apart from all that, it wasn't too bad really and well worth the effort.
Re: The Importance of Being Earnest
Tue, 13 July 2004, 05:25 pmWalter Plinge
Apparently you are wrong, if the following website is correct:
http://www.oldandsold.com/articles09/clothes-29.shtml
From which:
"VICTORIA, 1837-1901; THE VICTORIAN PERIOD
MEN
...
Footgear.—The boot known as "congress" with side insets of elastic which did away with fastening, and low heels, was the most popular form of foot covering for years. For evening wear, pumps were worn; these toward the end of the century were of patent leather. Men wore buttoned or laced shoes from the seventies on. Russet and various shades of tanned leather came into style during the last decade. Oxford ties of white canvas or tanned leather replaced them in summer."
Although it would appear they were out of fashion by Ernest's time.
Nevertheless, I believe my characterisation of Ernest is of a man suitably confident in his sexuality to feel comfortable wearing women's boots. Indeed, while on stage I also wear women's underwear and nipple clamps. (Are nipple clamps out of period?)
http://www.oldandsold.com/articles09/clothes-29.shtml
From which:
"VICTORIA, 1837-1901; THE VICTORIAN PERIOD
MEN
...
Footgear.—The boot known as "congress" with side insets of elastic which did away with fastening, and low heels, was the most popular form of foot covering for years. For evening wear, pumps were worn; these toward the end of the century were of patent leather. Men wore buttoned or laced shoes from the seventies on. Russet and various shades of tanned leather came into style during the last decade. Oxford ties of white canvas or tanned leather replaced them in summer."
Although it would appear they were out of fashion by Ernest's time.
Nevertheless, I believe my characterisation of Ernest is of a man suitably confident in his sexuality to feel comfortable wearing women's boots. Indeed, while on stage I also wear women's underwear and nipple clamps. (Are nipple clamps out of period?)
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