THE IMPORTANCE – Original Studio Cast Recording (Stage Door Records – STAGE 9044)
The only musical adaptation of Oscar Wilde’s The Importance of Being Earnest to be staged in London’s West was The Importance with music, lyrics and book adaptation by Sean O’Mahony. This was staged originally at the Ambassadors Theatre in 1984 with a cast that included Patrick Ryecart, David Firth and Judy Campbell. Two years later a revised version called Borne in a Handbag was staged at Peterborough’s Key Theatre with a new cast including Nigel Williams, Cal McCrystal, Amanda Bairstow and Ann Hamilton. Neither of these versions were recorded as an original cast recording. However, over the last 20 years an album has been in the offing and this is it!
I had only been aware of the other musical version of Wilde’s play Ernest in Love, which never was produced on the West End stage so, it was interesting to hear this new recording. The great problem with adapting a piece such as this is always going to be working Wilde’s humour into the songs; sometimes it does work but not completely. The best way to listen to this recording is to try to forget the original play and just revel in the delight of what you are hearing. Otherwise you become like one of those dreadful amateur opera singers who go to see a production with the score in their hand throughout!
This cast includes Nigel Williams, Jill Martin, Susan Jane Tanner and ‘other West End vocalists’. I put that quote in deliberately because in the past one of Stage Door Records’ (many) great selling points has always been a really informative booklet. This has hardly any information included and certainly nothing about who is singing which tracks. There is a list of Principal Singers and Ensemble singers but nothing to say who is playing or singing what. This seems really strange but I am sure there is a perfectly good explanation for it.
That aside, this is one for the musical theatre buff, the cast is wonderful and give the show a great resurrection, particularly the person singing ‘Your Engagement’ as Lady Bracknell – who I suspect might be Jill Martin. Although many would think it is an abomination to musicalise Wilde, I for one would love to see it revived one day as a chamber piece without the chorus.
Nick Wakeham
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