Fast Chat: Brian Bedford is being earnest

There's a lot of laughter spilling out of the American Airlines Theatre these days, where Oscar Wilde's 1895 comedy, "The Importance of Being Earnest," has been revived by the Roundabout Theatre Company. Much of that reaction has to do with the play's indomitable matriarch, Lady Bracknell, and the um . . . well . . . the gent who's playing her.

Brian Bedford, 75, who directed this production, also stars as Lady B. He's not the first man to try on her Victorian dresses, wig, feathered hat and withering looks - but never have they been worn so well.

The British-born classical actor endured a tough childhood, raised in poverty, before making his way to the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (studying with Peter O'Toole and Albert Finney) and the English stage (acting with, and befriending, John Gielgud).

New York soon called, and Bedford moved here, becoming known for his performances of Shakespeare and Molière. He earned a slew of Tony nominations, winning in 1971 for Molière's "School for Wives."

Today, with his partner Tim MacDonald (who plays a butler in "Earnest"), he splits his time between California and Ontario, Canada, where he works regularly at the Stratford Shakespeare Festival.

Bedford met with Newsday contributor Joseph V. Amodio at the Manhattan high-rise where the actor is staying during the show's run, Here, he's as unBracknellian as can be: lighthearted, soft-spoken, barefoot.

Your costumes are grand, but obviously not quite what you're used to wearing. Are they heavy? Cumbersome?

No, they're helpful. You just get into those frocks, and you're halfway there. Although . . . I didn't think it was a good idea at first.

Playing Lady Bracknell?

Des McAnuff suggested it. He's the artistic director at Stratford. I'd just played Lear. . . .

Ah, there's a natural progression.

Yes. What do you do after you've played King Lear? Obviously, Lady Bracknell. [He laughs.]

What's interesting is that it's not a drag performance - you ARE Lady Bracknell.

I'm not a huge fan of drag. Usually I don't find it that funny. What was fascinating was the challenge of playing a woman. And she's . . . such a handful. I love playing extreme characters - Richard III . . . Macbeth . . . Lear . . .

Oscar Wilde created a formidable, pretty fabulous character for you.

And you know Oscar wrote it quite unapologetically for money. Oscar always needed money. He lived so extravagantly. He had no practical sense at all. So he just wrote "Earnest" to make money. It's such an irony that he then produced the greatest . . . well, there's no other farce like it in the English language. It's like Mozart - you can't miss a single note.

Do you understand women better now that you're playing one?

[He chuckles.] You're not likely to learn much about women from Lady Bracknell. She's hardly typical. But she is a real person. She's absurd and money-mad and pseudo-moral. She has all the problems of the late-Victorian era.

What would you say to people who think, "Oh, those old-fashioned period plays - they're not relevant to my life?"

The reason it's called a classic - whether it's written in 1600 or 1895 - is because it has just as much meaning today as it had back then. The problems of human beings don't change from generation to generation. The clothes may change. Mores may change. But people don't.

You've been away from England a long time.

When I came here in '59, I felt as if I was coming home. It sounds like a cliche, but it's true. But I also wanted to have an English actor's career - I had this instinctive desire to do the classics.

And somehow you've managed that.

I've had the kind of career I've wanted. How lucky can you get?

I hear you're a big swimmer - have you gotten much swimming in?

I haven't had time. When you're directing and acting in a play, that's it! Apart from when you're asleep, that's what you think about. I mean, we have this wonderful view here of New York. This is my experience of New York. I get into a car, go to the theater, get into a car, come back - it's wonderful, but this is it.

At least you get to bring your partner, Tim, with you. How long have you been together?

Over 25 years.

That's a nice thing to have.

Yeah. It's, uh . . . [He pauses.] Yes, the classics, and Tim, have saved my life. And the great thing is that we've worked together, too. So we work together. Live together. I tell you, it's a charmed life. No complaints.