SENSE AND SENSIBILITY

SENSE AND SENSIBILITY

Theatre at Baddow at the Village Hall

28.01.15

This version of the classic romantic novel focuses on the unsmooth path to true love of the Dashwood girls, with a little comic relief and a hurried happy ending - “events tumbling on top of one another”.

Pauline Saddington's production is stripped to the minimum – black drapes, a few nice pieces of period furniture, and a cast of seven, plus two supernumeraries who bring messages and shift chairs. A simple, largely static staging allowing us to concentrate on Austen's plot, and her words, which are ingeniously woven into the dialogue.

It's a strong, young cast. Almost everyone is dressed authentically, almost everyone is vocally convincing; no easy task with this polished dialogue. The girls – acquiescent Elinor [Sense] and headstrong, emotional Marianne [Sensibility] – are clearly contrasted by Helen Quigley and Donna Stevenson. The objects of their frustrated affection are the pale and amusing Ferrars [Nick Milenkovic] and the fickle, dissolute Willoughby [impressively characterized by Liam Mayle]. The attractive schemer Miss Lucy Steele is played by Ruth Westbrook, and the gentlemanly Colonel Brandon gets a confident, stylish performance from Roger Saddington.

The only bonnet on show is worn by Aunt Jennings, the voluble busybody deliciously done by Beth Crozier.

The music, not much of which would have been heard in the parlour at Norland, provides a lush cinematic under-scoring to the storyline.

SENSE AND SENSIBILITY

SENSE AND SENSIBILITY

Rosemary Branch Theatre

at the Civic, Chelmsford

19.04.12

Helen Tennison's production is admirably stylish, with ecru drapes and muted beige and off-white frocks, and striking use of picture frames to focus our attention [designer Ellan Parry].

This two-hour version – first done for the much-missed SNAP – by Roger Parsley and Andy Graham focuses on the love lives of the Dashwood girls, losing much of the context and many of the characters along the way.

We're left with a largely frivolous rom-com, though fortunately the director's skill, and some fine performances, keep us entertained from funeral to weddings.

James Burton worked hard in the double role of boring Brandon and awkward Edward, and was endearing and amusing in both. The cad Willoughby, somewhat underpowered here, was Jason Eddy.

The monstrous Aunt Jennings – a gift of a role – was skilfully done by Lainey Shaw, with just the right blend of grotesque and generosity. The surviving Miss Steele, was nicely portrayed by Francesca Wilding, using her bonnet to excellent effect.

Emma Fenney's Elinor engaged our sympathy, but Bobbi O'Callaghan was too brash as her flighty sister, too loud [as her aunt might point out, it is not done to be heard in the street …].

But much pleasure was to be had from the linen line, the original music by Benedict Davies, and masterly stage effects like Marianne's fevered dream, her embracing the elements and falling into Willoughby's arms, and Edward's delicious discomfiture on finding his beloved en tête-à-tête with his betrothed.