The Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School theater department decided to cast students to execute a play called “The Importance of Being Earnest” in the auditorium at 7:00 p.m, Nov. 3; some of the lead roles were performed by sophomore Melissa Azzarito as Cecily Cardrew and senior Nick Bedusa as Algernon Moncrieff.

Written and first produced in 1895, “The Importance of Being Earnest” began as a book that was later made into a play by Oscar Wilde. The play quickly gained popularity throughout time due to its comedic and romantic genre.

‘The Importance of Being Earnest’ is set in an apartment in London where two close friends both live a double life as different people while attempting to keep their lives in balance. One of the men, John Worthing, pretends to be his imaginary younger brother named Ernest to escape his responsibilities. Meanwhile, Algernon Moncrieff lives under the name of Bunbury to take advantage of his travels however he pleases.

While spending time in London, John falls in love with Algernon’s cousin, Gwendolen, and plans to come clean before any more issues arise. Gwendolen claims she can only love a man named “Ernest,” which leads John to further play into his double life. The truth is later revealed once Algernon travels to the area John resided in and falls in love with a woman named Cecily Cadrew while also presenting himself as the fictional younger brother named Ernest, causing widespread confusion.

The 3-hour play demonstrated ways to solve this conflict humorously while the characters found ways to fulfill their passionate love. They attempted to find ways to resolve their situations before other close relatives like Gwendolen’s mother, Lady Brecknell, began to have their suspicions.

After many rehearsals, MSD drama launched the show on Thursday and filled up most seats by selling tickets on the website SeatYourself until the show time. This Victorian-era play was an entertaining way of how the four have fought to live and love who they desire. To perform this, Douglas’s theater department put great effort into the choreography, singing and acting of this play all inside the auditorium.