The concept of the mistaken-identity comedy has been explored by artists from Shakespeare to Lucille Ball. Rarely is this story played out with as much intelligence and wit as in the Village Theatre's production of "The Importance of Being Earnest," which runs through March 29 at The Everett Performing Arts Center.

Indeed, cleverness reigns in Oscar Wilde's script of young love, societal demands and imaginary friends. Jack and Algernon are two social acquaintances whose temperaments are as different as night and day. Jack (played by Paul Morgan Stetler) is the more practical and pessimistic of the pair while "Algie" (Jason Collins) embodies the charm and verve of Wilde himself.

The two characters find themselves explaining their devices for excusing themselves from undesirable social settings by the use of fictitious people in an exercise Algie calls "Bunburying," so named after his imaginary invalid friend, Bunbury. Jack, it turns out, has been living a double life as Jack in the city and as his non-existent brother, Earnest, in the country.

The two friends' lies come to a critical turning point when they fall in love with Gwendolyn (Jennifer Lee Taylor) and Cecily (Angela DiMarco), with each gentleman introducing himself, in turn, as Earnest.

Each member of the cast plays his or her part perfectly, lobbing witticisms to each other like a verbal game of hot potato. Stetler, as Jack, was the most believable as his character's penchant for practicality prevails. I agreed with his character in the first act when he complained about all the clever people in the world. Not that the dialogue isn't witty or entertaining; it was just exhausting listening to each person trying to outdo the other. The style in which the show was presented made it feel like a sitcom with punchline following punchline. The characters were so broad, the laughs so obvious, that I felt distanced and never really involved with the characters.

The sets, beautifully and ornately constructed to look like a living painting, only added to the feeling that I was watching television, rather than being drawn in by live theatre. The complexity of the sets themselves forced the audience to endure two separate intermissions while locations were changed onstage, thus putting the show close to a three-hour run time.

And by the way, during those intermissions I was disappointed by the meager refreshment offerings. The concession stand itself looked desolate and uninviting. What happened to the espresso and truffles? When paying a higher price for tickets, it sets the expectation of pampering oneself at intermission as well.

"Earnest" is a wonderfully produced show, as are most of the Village Theatre's productions, but the style chosen by director Brian Yorkey left me feeling a little shortchanged for my entertainment dollar.

Showtimes for "The Importance of Being Earnest" are Wednesdays through Saturdays at 8 p.m. and Sundays at 7 p.m., with Saturday and Sunday matinees at 2 p.m. Phone (425) 257-8600 for tickets or visit www.villagetheatre.org.