By Ruth
Ross
Based on Jane
Austen’s debut novel, Sense and Sensibility, Jessica Swale’s dramatic adaptation—now
onstage at the Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey—lays out many of the themes
explored throughout her literary career: the need to marry off daughters to
secure their future, the clash of social classes, the role of money in
matrimony, and the conflict between the brain (sense) and the heart
(sensibility).
Thus, when
the effervescent gentlewoman Mrs. Jennings crows (left), “There’s matrimony in the
air,” in the penultimate scene of the play, she signals to us that all will be
well with the impoverished Dashwood sisters and their beaus, the intrigues of
whom have riveted us for close to three hours!
I note the
run time of this production because, although it is based on a tome with lots
of characters and a convoluted plot, it requires a bit of sitz-fleisch on
the part of the audience to stay engaged with it all. Indeed, the thick British
accents, coached by Julie Foh, often delivered at break-neck speed by the
actors made the dialogue at times difficult to follow.
Veteran actor Billie Wyatt is warm and vulnerable as the romantic Marianne, in love with love, wearing her heart on her sleeve, only to have it broken. Mandi Masden is more buttoned up as the sensible Elinor, who analytically approaches her liaison with Edward Ferrars so that it almost gets away from her. Their discussion of literature, especially that of Alexander Pope is deliciously droll. As their little sister Margaret, Terra Chaney is appropriately annoying, but her inquisitiveness about the natural world is delightful. Lynnette R. Freeman is steady as their worried mother, conscious of the financial and social level they’ve been reduced to when their half brother inherits the home they’ve occupied for years, and they have to move to a wholly new area of England. The distaff side of the family is rounded out by Kayla Ryan Walsh —arrogant, imperious as their sister-in-law Fanny Dashwood, anxious to become the mistress of Norland Park, and warmly effusive as the aforementioned Mrs. Jennings (top image), who befriends the Dashwoods and introduces the girls to London’s winter Season. She ably manages to play both sides of the feminine coin very well!
Brittany
Vasta has designed a multilevel set with ramps at the rear and front of the
stage where various scenes occur, often at the same time. Sliding panels also facilitate a change of venue. Sophie S. Schneider’s
costumes reference Austen’s 1797 world, while Liam Bellman-Sharpe provides seaside
sounds (ocean waves, birds) and romantic music when necessary. Anthony Galaska’s
lighting design is atmospheric and evokes the passage of time.
Sense and
Sensibility will be performed
at the F.M. Kirby Shakespeare Theatre, 36 Madison Avenue, on the campus of Drew
University, Madison, through September 22, 2024. For information and tickets,
call the box office at 973.408.5600 or visit www.ShakespeareNJ.org online.
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