SACRAMENTO, CA (MPG) - There are three more chances to see the Cosumnes River College production of “The Importance of Being Earnest.” The college’s second summer play is the “classic British comedy of manners,” according to its producer.

“Earnest” opened last weekend, with the last performances on July 19, 20 and 21.

The play, by Oscar Wilde, is about two friends, Algernon and Jack, who each discover that the other has a fake persona that he uses to get out of social obligations. In courting the women they wish to marry, both friends end up using the same false name: Ernest. The result is a play full of witty banter, mistaken identities and farcical situations.

“They cause some problems, and then they have to fix the problems, but it’s all done in a very funny way,” said Martin Flynn, the play’s technical director and producer.

Adapting to an unexpected casting change, director Scott Gilbert had added some comedic sequences before and during scene changes. In an early moment, two actors learn onstage that they have to switch roles.

“Chaos ensues, and they run off the stage in a panic, and then they come back in their proper costumes a couple minutes later, and the show starts. … The students really enjoyed these little extra slapstick bits,” Flynn said. “It’s a fun romp, is how I would describe it.”

The students have received praise for their British accents. Flynn said an audience member from the U.K. asked after a performance whether any of the students are English.

“And I said, ‘No, they’re all from Sacramento,’ and she was like, ‘Wow, their accents are amazing.’” Flynn said. “You know, she thought that some of them actually had native British accents.”

Cosumnes River College is mounting a summer play for the second year as it prepares for a partnership with the city of Elk Grove. In 2025, it will perform a summer comedy at Laguna Town Hall. As far as anyone at Cosumnes River College can remember, Flynn said, the college’s theater program has never produced plays in the summer before.

Asked about reasons to come to the play, Flynn noted that Cosumnes River College asks theater patrons to “pay what you can” for tickets, to ensure that finances do not prevent individuals from enjoying theater.

“I think (the play) is just a nice way to step out of the heat of Sacramento into a completely different world for two hours,” Flynn said, adding that live theater gives a special experience at every performance. 

“There’s always some nuances between each show. So you’re always seeing something unique,” Flynn said. “It’s not like you go to a movie and it’s exactly the same both times.”

“The Importance of Being Earnest” will be performed at 7:30 p.m. July 19 and 20 and at 2:30 p.m. July 21.

 The Cosumnes River College Black Box Theatre is on the east side of the campus at 8401 Center Parkway, Sacramento. 

Individual tickets are “pay what you can,” with a minimum price of $5 each for orders of two to six tickets. To buy tickets, visit the play’s webpage at bit.ly/4f4MeH0 (case sensitive).