A preview audience Wednesday took a peek at the Hobnob Theater Co.’s offering of “Lady Windermere’s Fan” by Oscar Wilde which opens Friday under the direction of Kenneth Smith.

The witty play is sure to delight audiences who enjoy the drawing room comedies made famous by Wilde. The cast was well chosen for the appointed roles and did not disappoint in weaving the tale about love, society and the virtues of good and evil.

Megan Flannery is Lady Windermere, the innocent and pure idealistic young bride who got caught up in the rumors and whispers of scandal. She was delightful in her banter and repartee with Lord Darlington, played by Justin Anderson. The pair was playful and fun with great chemistry and timing.

Flannery nails the contemplative pout, and Anderson’s got the sly charm and wit that Darlington requires as the smooth talker. She effectively shifted her demeanor as her misgivings about her husband mounted. Flannery portrayed a woman scorned with great verve.

Portraying Lord Windermere, the seemingly suspiciously devoted husband, was Casey Bowser.

Always a consummate performer, Bowser immersed himself in the role of husband and protector. Though he shared a few comical moments, Bowser played the vexed Windermere with a calculated stewing.

He bore the burden of the true identity of the mystery lady known as Mrs. Erlynne, portrayed by Heidi Nicholls Bowser. She too had her moments of comedy but came into her own during the compelling evoking scene as she sought desperately to guide the misguided Lady Windermere.

Typical of her style, she owned the role and made it incredibly easy to forget you were watching a play.

The comedic relief of the show was definitely offered up by Katy Wayne and Phillip Ball.

Wayne, as the Duchess of Berwick, was hysterically funny as she tried to properly gossip, slander and snub. Her delivery and diction were quite enjoyable.

Ball, as Cecil Graham, was the snide cynic who flamboyantly shared his views on the lives and misfortunes of others because they were more entertaining than his own existence.

His target was Tubby, or Lord Augustus, played by Greg Crawford. Crawford easily played the pawn and the butt of Graham’s jokes.

Augustus’s happy, easy- going nature enabled him to easily interact with the characters.

Terrific supporting roles were offered up by Holly Furman, Erin Mossman Colkitt, Michelle Hayden, Thom Hilliard and Jake Kyriazis.

Well done and witty and perfectly safe for families, the show includes several talking points that are still timely today about the role society plays in our perception as well as the inherent good or evil of an individual.