Oscar Wilde described his play “The Importance of Being Earnest” as “a trivial comedy for serious people.”
But there is nothing trivial about the work Texas Wesleyan University theater students put into their production. The audience sees 2 hours and 15 minutes of spirited performance, but much more goes on behind the scenes.
If the audience is naive to the work the students put in, this is a sign of success, said Jeanne Everton, the Texas Wesleyan theater professor who directs the comedy. She teaches the practicum class for which student participation in the production is required.
“My position on this is, it should look effortless,” she said. “We don’t want our audience to be focused on how hard it was, how much hard work went into a performance. We want them to see the performance and enjoy the story, enjoy the visuals, without focusing on how hard the work was.”
The students began work on the play on Oct. 6, with rehearsals held 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. Monday through Friday. They must attend every day in which their scenes are practiced.
Three rehearsal days were devoted to learning the Victorian British accent they would adopt for the performance, including one day focused solely on the pronunciation of the letter R.
Tristan Andrews, a sophomore who plays lead character Algernon Moncrieff, said the accent was the biggest lesson he learned from staging the comedy.
“God bless, man,” Andrews said. “It seems like it changed just about every vowel and every word, you know?”
Tristan Andrews, who portrays Algernon Moncrieff in “The Importance of Being Earnest,” performs during the show’s final dress rehearsal Nov. 12, 2025, on the Texas Wesleyan University campus. (McKinnon Rice | Fort Worth Report)
Sophomore Bianca Zamorano said a challenge for her, in addition to the accent, was portraying the naivete of Cecily Cardew, one of the lead characters.
“It was very hard doing that, because I myself am very unlike her,” she said. “I’m very aware of what I’m doing. I’m very aware of others. I know what other people are feeling. I know how I’m feeling.”
The production is a theater-in-the-round performance, meaning that the audience views the action from all sides.
This requires a unique layout and style of acting. The performers move often to make sure they do not have their back to any one section of the audience for too long.
“In the normal case, where it’s actors on one side and then the audience on the other side, you only have to look one way the entire show, essentially. But now that the actors are on four sides surrounded by people, now you have to essentially cater to almost everyone,” Andrews said.
This also impacts the lighting and set design. The production crew had to take care not to blind the audience with lights or build a set that would block someone’s view.
Students perform during their final dress rehearsal Nov. 12, 2025, on the Texas Wesleyan University campus. From left: Makailyn Felder, Tristan Andrews, Bianca Zamorano, Aaron Simmons and Trinity Chenault. (McKinnon Rice | Fort Worth Report)
For Zamorano, her commitment to the production is in addition to an on-campus job as a lead mentor for new students, a job at Wingstop, about six hours of work in the scene shop each week, and three classes in addition to the practicum. She balances all that by taking advantage of every second.
“I don’t let myself freak out,” she said. “If I have a dull moment while I’m sitting at the table doing new student mentor, I’ll knock out an assignment real quick if it takes two seconds.”
For Andrews, he is taking five classes in addition to working a few hours each week in the scene shop. Some days leave him without any downtime, he said.
Everton said this helps prepare the students for life after graduation, when they will need to balance acting with a side gig that pays the bills.
“All of this, it’s sort of like trial by fire, but it prepares them for how difficult it is to sustain a career until you get to a point that you’re a star, and then you make gigantic bucks, and you can give up the side hustle,” she said.
Bianca Zamorano acts during the final dress rehearsal with Madisyn Savard, left, and Makailyn Felder Nov. 12, 2025, on the Texas Wesleyan University campus. (McKinnon Rice | Fort Worth Report)
The production is a step toward big dreams both students hope to chase after graduation.
Andrews’ interest in acting was sparked by watching television and movies, including one particular summer he spent watching “Breaking Bad.” He enjoys the work of making the portrayal of a character believable.
“You watch a bad movie and you see this guy who’s putting in a poor performance and you’re like, ‘OK, this is Joe Schmo who works down the street. This isn’t real,’” he said. “But then you see Walter White onscreen or some guy like that, and you’re like, ‘This is happening.’ You believe it.”
Andrews wants to be in a TV show or movie after graduation.
Zamorano was inspired to pursue the field by her older brother, who she first saw perform in “Shrek the Musical.”
“It was just something about seeing my brother onstage,” she said. “I was 7, and I was like, man, that’s what I want to do when I grow up. I want to be like him. He’s always been my greatest inspiration when it comes to theater, and he’s never kicked me down about it.”
Zamorano’s brother is a middle school theater teacher, and she wants to follow in his footsteps — as well as “make it big.”
If you go:
What: “The Importance of Being Earnest” by Theatre Wesleyan
When: 7:30 p.m. Nov. 20, 7:30 p.m. Nov. 21 and 2 p.m. Nov. 22
Where: Thad Smotherman Theatre at Texas Wesleyan University, 1205 Binkley St.
Admission: $10
The afternoon before the students’ final dress rehearsal and a day before the production’s opening night, Zamorano was anticipating her brother’s attendance.
And, of course, excited to hear laughs.
“Please laugh,” she said, letting loose a chuckle of her own. “Enjoy the show. Don’t be afraid to laugh.”
McKinnon Rice is the higher education reporter for the Fort Worth Report. Contact her at mckinnon.rice@fortworthreport.org.
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