Two classic playwrights, Oscar Wilde and George Bernard Shaw combine in John Vance’s “Celebration of Wilde and Shaw.” The play will involve a cornucopia of scenes and moments from The Importance of Being Earnest, Pygmalion, Lady Windermere’s Fan and Arms & the Man, as well as Shaw’s plays Village Wooing, A woman of No Importance, Ideal Husband and Lady of the Sonnets. ‘It’s like an evening of theatrical tapas, giving you a little taste of many different plays,” said actress and university alum, Erin Huie.

“I taught a class on Shaw and Wilde, and have a long standing delight with both playwrights, I made my return to drama with Wilde, and also wanted to highlight some of Shaw’s best works as a comic” said Professor, actor and producer, John Vance.

The play demonstrates both the funniest scenes and the scenes that best compliment each other. “It actually feels like quite a logical combination to me. Shaw and Wilde were contemporaries, and they had a great deal in common, said Huie.

Using only three actors and adding minor transitions between the various works Vance created a play that flows smoothly, yet still surprises audiences with various twists and turns.” Writing this play involved selecting and trimming down lines so the show flows, having enough to give a general picture of both and weaving together for the three of us to play all characters, making it seamless, with smooth transitions,” said Vance.

In the major scene from the Importance of Being Earnest requires Vance, the only male in this play, to act as three different men. “Constantly shifting characters is a challenge, but I chose to use three actors because we can each do several character our selves and it will flow differently than most plays,” said Vance.

“Timing is always important in theatre, but this is one of the plays where timing is essential,” said Huie. In Lady of the Sonnets the scene is set in the Renaissance and has more action, which makes for an exciting scene, but also a good deal of work.

Filled with wit and laughter this play will be a unique and educational experience, drawing a diverse audience, high school age and above. “Shaw and Wilde are so delightful that it is hard to imagine anyone not enjoying their work,” said Huie.