REVIEW: Sense and Sensibility at the Everyman Theatre

Cheltenham

Sense and Sensibility, adapted from Austen’s 1811 novel, is performed by the Worcester Repertory Company and directed by the Everyman Theatre’s creative director Paul Milton. Two sisters, down on their luck after being ousted from their family home in Sussex, navigate society and suitors as they move to the comparably quaint Barton Cottage.

 

 

Originally set in Devonshire, the Worcester Repertory Company has set this play in Worcestershire to bring the glorious yet familiar green hills of the Cotswolds to this enduring story. The characters often name-drop local hotspots, including Tewkesbury and Upton-Upon-Severn, taking us across the English countryside on horseback – quite literally! The play brings Regency stylings to the wonderful Everyman Theatre, which itself sports beautiful architecture from its construction in 1891.

 

 

As an adaptation, this play very cleverly omits a few details from the original book and instead focuses on the two eldest Dashwood sisters, Elinor and Marianne, while their younger sister Margaret and ailing mother are conspicuously absent. Reprising the roles of Alan Rickman, Hugh Grant, Kate Winslet, and Emma Thompson from the 1995 film, the actors are exceptional, with great comedic timing, quick costume changes, and a fantastic willingness to throw themselves into whatever character may pop up next.

The play combines the very British wit of Austen’s novel with a Monty Python-esque brand of comedy. The few actors on-stage bring a lot of life, laughs, and joy to this story, with a great energy that immediately got our audience on-board. One or two of the characters were clearly audience-favourites, getting big cheers whenever they appeared. Tons of creativity and thought have been put into this play, adapting the book exceptionally well while putting its own stamp of personality on the events.

 

Overall, this play was one of the best Austen adaptations we’ve seen. We would whole-heartedly recommend Sense and Sensibility, which is playing at the Everyman Theatre until Saturday 26 July, so grab your bonnet and book your tickets now!

Review by Leah.

 

For More Information & Tickets Click HERE

 

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