If the weather doesn't favour outdoor Shakespeare, then visitors to Oxford may well prefer another traditional entertainment, a student production of Oscar Wilde's The Importance of Being Earnest, which is at the Old Fire

Station, alternating with performances of The Changeling, until August 26, writes Paula Clifford.

Patrons should, however, be alert to the fact that the information as to which play is scheduled when is cunningly concealed, and that they only see one play on each occasion a cause of some confusion at the opening night of Earnest last Thursday.

Perhaps because of the partnership with The Changeling, director Oliver Wears has taken pains to underline the deceptive nature of appearances.

Rather than rely on Wilde's dialogue alone, he has given the part of Lady Bracknell to a man (Michael Flexer), although this adds little apart from vocal resonance and an exaggerated bosom. Indeed in the early scenes the actor depends not so much on his voice as on rolling his eyes at the mere mention of social indiscretion, and his "a handbag!" verges on hysteria, though by the time we get to "Prism, where is that baby" he is frighteningly convincing.

The transformation of Jack (Jamie Walker Haworth) and Algie (Richard Brent) from unsmiling and unappealing layabouts into simpering lovers seems even less than probable than usual, although Luci Millward as Gwendolen and Delphine Schrank as Cecily are worthy objects of their affections. All of them have a tendency to hurry lines which still deserve to be savoured, and for Jack to rush the line that closes the play is almost unforgivable.

Probably the best performance comes from Philip Stane as Canon Chasuble, in many ways the most straightforward character of the lot, but whoever had

the idea of pronouncing his name 'Casuble' needs a lesson in ecclesiastical terminology. Even so, this is an enjoyable production that will please Oxford's visitors as well as keeping them warm and dry.