It has been more than 100 years since Oscar Wilde's play The Importance of Being Earnest had its debut in London's famed St. James Theatre. But its wit, commentary on the frivolity of society and observations of the irrationality of relationships are as enjoyable, fresh and relevant as ever. The Taproot Theater's current production of the romantic tale of mistaken or misrepresented identities provides a great evening of entertainment for anyone who enjoys great dialogue and funny banter.

The show's main characters, John Worthing (Kevin Brady) and Algernon Moncreff (Aaron Lamb), interact on stage as though they have been doing so since childhood. The humorous conversations they engage in are more reminiscent of a Coen Brothers film than Victorian British theater.

Wilde's comedy follows the two friends as each reveals an alter ego to the other and how both discover that they are tangled in the lies. Both men fall in love with a woman who has fallen in love with their false self, and as the friends attempt to out the truth to the women, they find the lies harder and harder to escape. Eventually, the two friends find themselves caught not only in their own lies, but those of the other as well, as the women they have fallen for meet each other and begin to uncover the truth.

The Importance of Being Earnest had its debut in 1895 and is widely regarded as Wilde's finest play. Though most of his other works deal with less comical aspects of life and are often times quite tragic in nature, he aimed for just the opposite with this one. The original title for the play was A Trivial Comedy for Serious People, which is perhaps less witty than the final title (both characters in the play are pretending to be someone named Earnest), but it certainly describes the play's character accurately. As Wilde described it: "We should treat all trivial things very seriously and all the serious things of life with sincere and studied triviality."

Wilde's own experience with double-lives may have inspired the comical theme of the play. Though open about his homosexuality at the end of his life, Wilde kept his true nature concealed for many years from everyone, including his wife. Shortly after this play opened, the author paid for his honesty and was sentenced to two years of prison for his homosexuality. He died only three years after his release and was never able to see the success of his lighthearted work.

The intimate setting of the Taproot Theater makes the experience of the play even more enjoyable. With a maximum audience of fewer than 200 people seated in a semicircle around the stage, there is not a bad seat in the house. The actors and actresses' voices are clearly heard without the need for amplification and the expressions on their faces convey as much as the articulate conversations. Pieces of Algernon's cucumber sandwich visibly fly from his mouth as his character becomes excited in the first act, heightening the sensation of closeness to the events unfolding on the stage.

The play runs five times a week until Oct. 27 and is definitely worth attending if you like the theater or are looking for a good introductory experience. Great acting and a wonderful environment turn Wilde's delightful play into a fantastic evening for any who attend.