SOUTH DEERFIELD — Head on through the saloon doors and meet Ernest and Ernest at Frontier Regional School this weekend, as the theater program throws a western twist on Oliver Wilde’s 1895 classic “The Importance of Being Earnest.”

Attendees are invited to enjoy the traditional witty humor mixed in with western motifs during four performances this weekend, with two 7 p.m. shows on Friday, Nov. 15, and Saturday, Nov. 16, as well as two matinees on Saturday and Sunday, Nov. 17, at 2 p.m. Tickets are $7 for students and seniors and $10 for adults.

The classic play — written by Irish playwright Oscar Wilde and typically set in England — follows Jack Worthing and Algernon Moncrieff who take on double lives by assuming the name Ernest as they attempt to court two women.

Senior Leila Bosman is taking on the role of Algernon Moncrieff, whom they described as a “morally ambiguous weirdo.” Bosman said it’s been a bit of a challenge to adapt to the character, but Director Gian DiDonna’s idea of adding a western twist helped bring the characters into focus, especially when it comes to the difficulty of matching classic British wit.

“I think the cowboy aspect definitely helped bring out the absurdity because we had been struggling with the rigidity of the ‘British-isms,’ as Mr. DiDonna called them,” Bosman said. “I’m having a lot of fun. I love all of our cast and crew, and spending time with them and just getting to do this experience together.”

DiDonna said he originally planned to put on the traditional version of the show, but the western shift came out of the “necessity” to help the students convey the play to the audience by getting past their preconceived ideas of English accents and focusing more on the wordplay and expression.

“Honestly, it gave me fits for weeks and one day, as a sheer out-of-the-blue experiment to shatter their ideas of what being ‘British’ means, I told them to begin using western accents,” DiDonna said. “Well, within seconds, onlookers were in stitches on the floor, less over what they were seeing, but more over what they were finally hearing in the elocution of the language and in the meaning of what they were actually saying.”

Mason Smith, a senior who is playing Jack Worthing, said the shift in setting was a move that everyone has gotten on board with, as it helps the cast understand their characters better, while giving the crew a chance to throw together some really fun western-themed sets.

“I think it’s been a lot of fun for a lot of people. They’ve embraced it a lot. I think the change that he made definitely worked the way he intended. Things have really been popping,” Smith said. “You’re looking at it through a different lens. The emphasis on things is still the same.”

Junior Sofia Hebert, who is playing Algernon’s cousin, Gwendolen Fairfax, said she believes the shift helped everyone in the cast get a better grasp on the 19th-century English humor, which will help those in the audience who are unfamiliar with Wilde’s work to relate to the characters.

“Even though it’s British dry humor, that western accent is helping me find more jokes, which is kind of ironic, because it wasn’t originally western,” Hebert said. “There’s a character for everyone … and I think that’s important for drawing in a broad audience. I’m excited to see all these drastically different characters work on stage.”

Chris Larabee can be reached at clarabee@recorder.com.