You may already be familiar with Oscar Wilde’s classic story of love, mistaken identity and double lives, but we can guarantee that you will never have seen anything quite like this!

It’s an unpredictable performance, mostly due to the cast being made up largely by volunteers from the audience. There are a couple of cast members who strive to keep them on the right track, Amy Cooke-Hodgson as Lady Bracknell, Guido Garcia Lueches as Algernon, Trynity Silk as Gwendolen and Rhys Tees as Lane/Chasuble/Prism/Merriman. However, anything they do is somewhat overshadowed by the uncertainty of the audience participation.

Ben Mann as Josh, the stage hand who seems to appear at just the right moment to save each scene from turning into utter madness, brings a delightful calm amongst all the chaos.

The set and costume design by Trynity Silk is functional, taking us from the sitting room of the house to the garden, and the lighting design by Catja Hamilton is sufficient in creating an atmosphere when needed.

Whilst there are amusing aspects to the performance, it can sometimes be an uncomfortable watch for the remaining audience. Especially when the volunteers that are standing in for the actors are left alone on the stage, without direction, or any idea what they are doing.

It’s a good concept but with too many volunteers on stage, it loses the plot of the story and the comedy lacks style. It’s easy to see why it was successful at the Edinburgh Fringe this year, but it loses that camaraderie in a larger venue.

Too much farce and too little structure.

*** Three stars

Reviewed by: Rachel Louise Martin

The Importance of Being… Earnest? plays at the Belgrade Theatre, Coventry until 4 November before continuing its tour. For more information, please click here.