Alexandra Palace Theatre, London – until 30 April 2022
Reviewed by Debra Stottor
4****
You may think of a Jane Austen novel as something of an anachronism, but her analysis of love, life and the choices we make still resonates today. The manners and social conventions belong in the 19th century, the story itself anytime, anywhere. And perhaps that’s why Jeff James and James Yeatman’s unorthodox adaptation of Austen’s final novel works, brought up to date with music and dancing that’s way too modern for this writer but with dialogue true to the original.
Austen’s novels are, to an extent, precursors to the modern-day rom-com, tales of boy-meets-girl with enough plot twists to keep you guessing and plenty of wit to keep the mood light and fun. This is very much played for laughs – from the sharp dialogue to the dance scenes to frolicking in the foam at Lyme Regis.
The three motherless Elliot sisters exemplify the different roles played by women – Elizabeth (Matilda Bailes), desperate to marry at any cost; Mary (Helen Cripps), married but disenchanted with her lot; and Anne (Sasha Frost), persuaded not to marry eight years earlier but thrown into turmoil by the reappearance of her erstwhile suitor, the now very eligible Captain Wentworth (Fred Fergus). The interactions between them and the other characters are believable and absorbing, making this a story that moves along at a good pace, keeping the audience engaged.
The staging is deceptively simple, so the audience concentrates on the interaction between the characters rather than being distracted by props. There are juxtapositions aplenty – characters in tracksuits speak in period dialogue, for example. And then there’s the music. Banging dance tunes – the soundtrack features Frank Ocean, Dua Lipa and Cardi B – accompanied by well-choreographed routines performed by the cast bring a surreal twist to an otherwise relatively straight adaptation of a 200-year-old tale (though I’m not sure what Austen would have made of the attraction between Elizabeth and Penelope (Caroline Moroney), a subject that would have been unspoken in the early 1800s).
At its heart this is a story about integrity and self-discovery, learning to trust our deepest feelings and not give in to the persuasion of others. In a world where everyone has an opinion, being certain of your own is as important now as it has ever been.
James’s adaptation brings Austen’s central themes into the 21st century in a light-hearted, accessible way for those unfamiliar with her work. This play stands alone in its own right – a fun night out for those of a romantic disposition.