At Scotts Valley High School, the drama department is taking on Oscar Wilde’s beloved comedy “The Importance of Being Earnest.” The play is getting a reprisal of modernity, courtesy of a passionate cast, a dedicated student production team and two alumni-turned-directors who say the production captures exactly what makes high school theater magical.
The fall play, traditionally a highlight of the school year, takes on new life under the leadership of co-directors Cooper Herenden and Ian Holombo, both members of the SVHS Class of 2021. They describe Wilde’s script—written in the 1890s—as surprisingly current, fast-paced and irresistibly funny.
“It’s a really silly comedy about two best friends who have basically made up fake people to get out of situations,” Holombo explained. “Their lies start to intertwine with their romantic lives, and everything spirals from there. Wilde called it ‘a trivial comedy for serious people,’ which still holds up perfectly.”
Herenden added that despite its age, the play feels shockingly modern: “People forget how timeless Wilde is. The jokes land. The characters feel real. And honestly, the kids took to the language faster than we expected.”
Scotts Valley High School typically performs contemporary scripts, so staging a Victorian-era comedy offers students a fresh challenge. When drama teacher Kendra Kannegaard approached Herenden and Holombo about co-directing, they chose “Earnest” precisely because it’s something the program rarely attempts.
“It’s been one of the most-produced plays in history,” Herenden said. “It was an immediate hit when it premiered; people described the theater as feeling like one big party. We wanted to bring that same energy here.”
The students, it turns out, were eager for it. Interest was so high that the directors double-cast nearly every principal role, creating the “Bread Cast” and the “Butter Cast” to ensure as many performers as possible would get stage time.
Although the comedy centers on a handful of leads—Jack, Algernon, Gwendolen, Cecily and the formidable Lady Bracknell—the full company includes footmen, household staff and a bustling ensemble that helps shift scenery and maintain the play’s quick pace.
Behind the curtain, the operation is just as impressive.
Ryan Goode, a junior, serves as both student producer and house manager. His job includes everything from coordinating parent volunteers to managing finances to ensuring the audience finds the right seat.
“It really puts into perspective how much work actually goes into a show,” Goode said. “I want people to walk in and think, ‘Oh my gosh, this is so cool.’”
Stage manager Ethan Soriano, also a junior, has been with the program since middle school and oversees the controlled chaos backstage. He describes the rehearsal process as “hilarious,” noting that the jokes land even when only three directors sit in the audience.
“The cast laughs constantly,” he said. “They’re really proud of what they do, and performing for a full crowd would make them 20 times happier.”
Wilde’s play is known for poking fun at social conventions, class expectations, romance and identity—themes that remain strikingly relatable.
“One takeaway is realizing that our problems may not be as serious as we think,” Holombo said. “These characters act like their world is ending over the smallest things. It’s a reminder to laugh at ourselves more.”
Herenden added a deeper perspective: “It humanizes the 1890s. It reminds us that people back then bickered, joked and fell in love the same way we do today. And at a time when everything feels so serious, it’s refreshing to put on something that’s just fun.”
The directors say the show also serves another purpose: keeping students passionate about classic literature in a time when technology has changed how teens read and write.
“With AI becoming so common, it’s special to see kids understanding and performing this kind of language,” Holombo said. “It gives me hope. The kids are all right.”
Herenden and Holombo’s connection to the program runs deep. After graduating in 2021, Herenden returned as the department’s technical director, helping rebuild the tech program after Covid-19 disrupted mentorship chains. Holombo recently completed a double degree in creative writing and film studies from the University of Washington and stepped in as the long-term substitute for drama and English.
“The Scotts Valley Drama Department is a family,” Holombo said. “It’s not easy to bring in an outsider—you need someone who understands the quirks, the space, the culture. Cooper and I knew we could do this together.”
In true theater-kid enthusiasm, Goode gave the most earnest (pun intended) pitch of all: “Come support the local high school and the kids pursuing their passions. They’re getting out of their comfort zones, wearing silly pants, having fun and showing what they love to do. You might even find your own place in theater by watching them.”
Some cast members are even auditioning for prestigious programs, such as Juilliard and NYU Tisch School of the Arts.
“If you want to see the next Meryl Streep before she’s famous,” said Herenden with a laugh, “this is your chance.”
Feel like being “Earnest” this holiday season? The production runs at the Scotts Valley High School Student Union from Dec. 4-13. The Bread Cast performs Dec. 5, 11 and 13, and the Butter Cast takes the stage Dec. 4, 6 and 12, with Understudy Night on Dec. 11. Tickets are available on cur8.com.
