The Boulevard Ensemble Theatre’s skeletal production modernizes the original version by eliminating the frothy costumes and elegant sets, and just portraying the characters and the dilemmas they create.

A chandelier, a few roses, teacups, three mirrors and minimal furniture symbolize and suggest the world of the British elite at the end of the 19th century. We get the picture through Joe Fransee’s well-chosen props. Norman Gaulin’s sound and music design also contribute to the atmosphere.

A farcical style and exaggerated blocking both serve to underline the artificiality of the world these characters inhabit. Hypocrisy is also lampooned.

Lady Bracknell is very concerned about her daughter Gwendolyn’s choice of mate and yet was not too wise in her own selection; Canon Chasuble claims to be a celibate and yet flirts blatantly with Miss Prism; Miss Prism preaches the value of propriety to her student Cecily and yet loses her own when the preacher is around. Algernon disparages love and marriage and yet makes a move on Cecily in the first moments of their meeting. And on and on it goes.

Kyle Queenan, Margaret Casey and Megan Kaminsky are standouts in the cast. Everything about Queenan is Algernon, his physical appearance, his movements, his British accent and his vanity - perfectly created.

Casey as the brittle, self-righteous, domineering Lady Bracknell captures it all. Kaminsky is very convincingly rendered as Cecily. Kaminsky embodies her frivolous innocence.

Other members of the entourage include Clarence Anment as the obsequious butlers of two households, David Ferrie as the wide-eyed, puffed-up cleric, Tess Cinpinski as the tempestuous daughter of Lady Bracknell, David Matthew Bohn as the split personality of Jack and Earnest and Mary Buchel, who creates the ditzy tutor, Miss Prism.

If you have never seen "The Importance of Being Earnest," here’s the opportunity to do so. Even if you have, the contrasting style Mark Bucher has chosen to use will prove quite interesting.

"The Importance of being Earnest" runs through Dec. 3 at the Bouvelard Theatre, 2252 S. Kinnickinnic Ave., Milwaukee. Call 414-744-5757 or visit www.boulevardtheatre.com for show times and tickets. Due to the show’s popularity, guests are encouraged to purchase tickets in advance as many shows are already sold out.