A tea spot? Something hilarious? The new generation of theatres are holding garden parties that will make you laugh.
The Orlando-based company will announce Oscar Wilde’s “The Importance of Being Serious” at Azalea Lodge at Mead Botanical Garden on April 3-7, but as usual, it’s not Wild or theatre. New Gen Creative Director Michael Knight has adopted a false identity to suit Wild’s romance comedy and the company’s interactive model.
Oh, and there’s a snack. Now, for more precise, a tea and finger sandwich. It’s all part of creating an environment that fits the story. Guests are even encouraged to participate in period costumes.
“We can do this show in a way that is true to our aura,” says Knight. One is given to selected audience members on the spot to create more interactions (don’t worry). The actors roam the lodge, while the audience sits at a circular table in reception style.
“We just want to remove the fourth wall. There are some clever ways to do that,” says Knight. “It’s fun. You’re in the play alongside these established characters. Now they’re talking to you.”
The Wild play dates back to 1895 follows two British people who create an ego of fictional change in an attempt to avoid social obligations. The intertwining of love means that shenanigans will continue.
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Knight and Robbie Phillips play two young men, Algernon and Jack, while Katie Williams and Haley Sants portray their love interests, Gwendolyn and Cecily. David Almeida and Vanessa Sotomayor also star as academic presidents and unwilling governors. It’s the scary Lady Bracknell, played by Alexander Murazek.
It has become common for men to play Lady Bracknell. The Central Floridian may recall Philip Noren, who made a star turn in the role of Orlando Shakes Productions in 2011, but Knight said he was not cast by show director Kate Adam Scramer based on his gender.
“It had nothing to do with stunt casting,” says Knight. “At one point, if a man played a woman, what was interesting was the looting of comedy. I think we’ve surpassed that. But Alex is just funny.”
surely. Mrazek has appeared in Orlando Sentinel’s annual theatre honors four times for his comedy productions, and in 2023 won a critic pick as director of the comic The Important Other.
Presenting the “importance of being serious” is to return to the form of a new generation of theatre. Over the last year or so, the company has focused more on special theatre events, such as cabaret, Broadway trivia, and karaoke nights, as well as the “Cracking a Cold One” series, where new short theatres have been created and presented in short order, based on audience suggestions.
“Last year was about ‘changing the direction like a ship,'” Knight says. This explains that an organization that takes pride in paying for the cast and crew may have tried to grow too quickly in a massive, full-fledged musical and theatre season.
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“I might have tried to run before I could walk,” he says. The new Gen leader said, “What is the scale of what we can do? What can we afford to pay an actor? Can we do a little more grassroots?”
However, the “importance of being serious” has long been around.
“This was a bucket list show,” says Knight.
“I’ll be totally honest with you, and it felt like a sacrifice,” Knight says. “I felt rude to this man who wields words like a sword.”
Essentially, Knight redistributed several lines to the audience for interactions that provided dialogue outside the plot.
“If you’re trying to make this a new kind of show, you’ll need to keep clipping the clip clipping,” he says.
The editor did not affect his respect for Wild. “If we had been doing a traditional proscenium style show, I wouldn’t have touched anything.”
He then laughs, imagining the opportunity to explain what he did to the mercury writer.
“I hope I’ll sit down with Oscar Wilde and say, ‘I don’t think I’m doing that more, I make the changes for this reason and I hope you understand,'” he says.
Then Knight laughs again.
“But I don’t think he’ll do that.”
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“The importance of being serious”
Location: Mead Botanical Garden, 1300 S. Denning Drive Winter Park Time: April 3-7 Cost: $25 (normal), $35 (prime sheet with snacks and drinks) Information: newgentheatrical.org
