Upon arriving at the Middletons they meet two other men-the upright stickler Colonel Brandon ( Carl Powell is the height of propriety and moral rectitude) and the seemingly solid Willoughby.Īs in all romantic comedies, hearts are meant to be broken, people are not what they seem to be, alliances become entangled, villains try to keep the lovers apart and, finally, the right couplings can be celebrated. Before leaving, the Dashwoods are introduced to an eligible young bachelor, Fanny’s brother Edward Ferrars ( James Johnson captures the spirit of a bashful young man unused to spouting fine words). Having fallen on hard times after the death of the senior Mr Dashwood, disinherited in favour of the remaining male family member, conniving half-brother John ( Brian Quakenbush who very capably also plays the dual role of the scoundrel Willoughby) and his mean-spirited wife Fanny ( Katt Campbell), sweet-natured Mrs Dashwood ( Ursula Szkolak) and her daughters, “sensible” Elinor ( Helena Descoteau), spunky Marianne ( Michelle Mitchell) and young Margaret ( Juliana Monk) are forced to depart the ancestral home for a small cottage on land owned by Sir John Middleton ( Kevin Stinson).
Sense and Sensibility is essentially a romantic comedy. The directors have ensured all the shenanigans do not detract from Austen’s insightful messages. The large ensemble cast under the direction of Langham Court veterans Keith Digby and Cynthia Pronick is quick on its feet, sharp of tongue, playful, bold and vigourous. Fantastical elements like puppets appear. Staging is included in Hamill’s script and makes use of representative architectural elements and furniture-most of it on castors-manipulated by the actors (set design Chris Clarke properties and set décor Linda MacNaughton). To defy social convention amounted to ruination. Reputation was everything, and particularly for women. Then, knowledge was spread through conversation, gossip, rumour and innuendo. In our modern world, people take for granted information at our fingertips. Filled with the author’s signature wit and sharp observation, Kate Hamill’s script focuses on relationships between the characters, and accentuates the role of gossip in that period’s society.
Sense and Sensibility at Langham Court Theatre (February 28-March 17, 2018) is a delightful and zany romp through Jane Austen’s Regency world. Sense and Sensibility at Langham Court Theatre.
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