Saturday, June 24, 2017

The Regency Era invades Boca with Sense and Sensibility



Calling all Janeites!  Calling all Janeites!  Mr. Henry Dashwood has died, leaving his home to John, son from his first marriage, and John’s scheming wife, Fanny, who has convinced her husband to banish his father’s second wife and her three daughters from their home, relegating them to Barton Cottage in Devonshire.  The shock of it all!  A mere cottage!  And the three young women, two of marriageable age, Elinor and Marianne, have no attachments and the bereft Dashwood women have but a very small inherited income.  If you are an inveterate Jane Austen enthusiast, you of course recognize this as the beginning of Sense and Sensibility, her first novel published in 1811.  It is a whirlwind novel of scandal, gossip, attachments made and attachments broken, the manners and mores of Regency England, and of course love.

Here is a wonderful adaptation written by Kate Hamill for the stage which opened last night, and a high energy production by FAU’s Department of Theatre and Dance.  Ultimately, the affections of the steadfast Edward Ferrars, and the stalwart Colonel Brandon win over the sensible Elinor and the mercurial Marianne, respectively, but before that much anticipated denouement, we are treated to a dizzying array of plot complications and impediments to love conquering all.

The cast made up mostly of MFA Graduate Students and two equity actors are all equally professional.  If this is the future of South Florida Theater, it will flourish.  It is a large cast including several members of “gossip groups,” sort of a Greek Chorus which brings the audience into the temper of the times.  Hilariously, they also function as dogs and horses in the play, just adding more action to what is already a lot of moving parts on stage as the minimalist scenery is on wheels and the cast is constantly moving them into new places. Comedic elements emerge throughout the production

Although it is impossible to comment on each and every performer (complete cast list below), they are all very convincing, but a special call out to Jessica Eaton who plays Fanny, her malice giving no grounds, and Traven Call who captures the essence of dog, horse, and finally the foppish brother of Edward, Robert Ferris.  Amanda Corbett plays Elinor and Gabriela Tortoledo is Marianne, both performing flawlessly in these two demanding major roles.  

What makes this production so enjoyable is the period Regency costumes (Dawn Shamburger), the music of the times (Sound Design by Rich Szczublewski), the fast moving choreography (kudos to Jean-Louis Baldet the Director and Suzanne Clement Jones, Stage Manager), and, again, a cast thoroughly committed to their craft.  Technical and Lighting Design is by Thomas M. Shorrock, and K. April Soroko is Scenic Designer.  A special mention goes to the Dialect Coach Jenna Wyatt -- getting that right is half the battle in such a production.

If there is one minor quibble (not to me personally, but it might be to some) it is the length, more than 2-1 / 2 hours including intermission.  Of course a familiarity with the novel would be helpful.  If you haven’t read it, there is always Wikipedia.  But after you’ve seen it, maybe you will want to read it as well as all of Jane Austen and become a Janeite like my wife Ann! 

CAST

Elinor Dashwood...................................Amanda Corbett+
Marianne Dashwood.............................Gabriela Iortoledo+
Margaret Dashwood..............................Abby Nigro
Mrs. Dashwood.....................................Kathryn Lee Johnston*
John Dashwood/Dr. Harris/Gossip E...Gray West+
Edward Ferrars......................................Sean Patrick Gibbons+
Fanny (Ferrars) Dashwood....................Jessica Eaton+
Colonel Brandon....................................Stephen Kaiser+
John Willoughby....................................Zak Westfall+
Sir John Middleton................................Barry Tarallo*
Mrs. Jennings.........................................Rachel Finley+
Lucy Steele/Gossip C.............................Laura M. Goetz
Anne Steele/Gossip D............................Savannah Marino
Robert Ferrars/Gossip E........................Trayven Call+
Gossip A.................................................Tara Collandra
Gossip B.................................................Erin Williams+

*Member of the Actors’ Equity Association (AEA)
+ M.F.A. Graduate Student

Amanda Corbett, Sean Patrick Gibbons and Gabriela Tortoledo  -Photo by Zak Westfall

Sense and Sensibility has Friday – Sunday performances 7 p.m. June 23 through July 22 with 2 p.m. matinees on Saturday and Sunday as well at Studio One Theatre, Florida Atlantic University, 777 Glades Road, Boca Raton.