FRESH, LUCID AND FUNNY, 'EMMA' CHARMS AUDIENCE - OTAGO DAILY TIMES

Jane Austen’s Emma
Adapted by Michael Fry
Directed by Lisa Warrington

Fortune Theatre
Saturday April 28, 2009

Reviewed by Barbara Frame

UTTERLY charming. This is the only possible response to Jane Austen’s Emma, which opened at the Fortune on Saturday night.

On an afternoon when Emma is still a relatively new novel, five young people (Sarah, Susan, Elizabeth, Robert and William) come together in an n attic for impromptu theatricals.

Stepping in and out of characters, and making inventive use of whatever props come to hand, they bring us the story of Emma, the heroine who thinks she can manage others’ lives and comes only slowly to understand that she barely knows herself. As delusions and misunderstandings unfold and multiply the young actors reveal something of their own personalities, carry on their own flirtations, surprise and sabotage one another, and sometimes let their enthusiasm carry them to unintended levels of comedy.

Adapter Michael Fry’s “play within a play” device works well, transferring the story from page to stage while preserving and respecting Austen’s incomparable characterisation, dialogue and wit. Every subplot in the novel is faithfully represented, and just about every significant incident recounted.

Anya Tate-Manning plays Emma throughout, and Mel Dodge, Julia Croft, Tim Foley and Patrick Davies manage to be everyone else, from dotty Miss Bates to poor misunderstood Jane Fairfax, from the excruciatingly awful Eltons to Emma’s doting but hyper-anxious father.

Lisa Warrington directs on a set where every attic relic comes in handy at least once, and Maryanne Wright-Smyth’s costumes are, as always, a joy in themselves.

Fresh, lucid and funny, Saturday night’s performance delighted the capacity audience. Recommended and not just for Austen fans.

A CHARMING PLAYFUL EXPERIENCE www.theatreview.org.nz

EMMA By Jane Austen
Adapted by Michael Fry
Directed by Lisa Warrington

at Fortune Theatre, Dunedin
Until 10 May 2009

Reviewed by Terry MacTavish, 19 Apr 2009

It is a given, that a rabid Jane Austen fan like myself, whose reading-life always has one of her novels on the go, will hate or love any interpretation of Emma. This is one to love. The consistently brilliant Lisa Warrington has united her cast in a controlled yet sparkling production that enhances Fry's script.

"Emma Woodhouse, handsome, clever, and rich... had lived nearly twenty-one years in the world with very little to distress or vex her." That opening sentence of Emma may not be as immediately recognisable as the "single man of good fortune" of Pride and Prejudice, but it initiates the same sense of pleasurable anticipation. You just know you're going to enjoy seeing so privileged a girl meet with a few setbacks, and learn a few lessons.

Michael Fry has ingeniously framed the book by having a group of young people, in 1820, decide to put on a performance of Emma in their attic, as a home theatrical - something very popular in the days before X-box. This provides rich opportunities for the actors, and could profitably underline the novel's themes. Although Austen herself enjoyed family theatre, she uses the device in Mansfield Park so as to show the temptations and dangers such a pastime could invite.

But this aspect is not explored by the script. Fry's determination to remain faithful to every possible detail of Austen's plot leaves him little space to develop his own. The opening sets up an expectation that we will witness similar growth in the lives of the 1820s cast. Sarah, who will play Emma, like her is charmingly bossy ("My idea, my house, my Emma" she says as she claims the title role) and seems in need of some of the same lessons. Although this never eventuates, Warrington's production compensates by the inventive physical activity of the cast, as they employ surprising props and use their bodies with exciting energy.

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Patron review

Over twenty years ago I was on “Mastermind” with Jane Austen as my specialist subject. Since then, Jane Austen’s novels have been widely read, filmed, and dramatised. The Fortune production of “Emma” is the only one which has satisfied me.

The use of a play within a play, the attic setting with its availability of props and delightful costumes all contributed to the period atmosphere. The acting talent was excellent, especially the ability to portray different characters Mel Dodge as Miss Bates, Harriet Smith, and Mrs Elton was superb. All actors had the facility of being clear, able to convey the mood and action of the play.

This production rates best I have seen at the Fortune in the years I have been going there. I think it is a must see.

Lynne Hill

The Star Newspaper

Jane Austen play a ‘delightful diversion’ by ‘excellent cast’

Reviewed by Brenda Harwood
April 21, 2009

A SUBSTANTIAL Sunday afternoon audience left the outside world behind to enter the 1820’s and enjoy a delightfully clever adaptation of Jane Austen’s novel Emma at the Fortune Theatre last weekend.

Adapted by Michael Fry, directed by Lisa Warrington, and performed by an excellent cast, the play presented Emma as a rainy afternoon theatrical diversion for a group of Georgian-Regency period young people spending time in the attic. The device worked brilliantly, allowing the cast of five to slip in and out of various characters and to press the plethora of attic items into service as props, costumes, carriages, horses and even people.

Strong performances and direction ensured that, even when the cast was slipping from one group of characters to another, the situation was always clear. It also gave plenty of opportunities for humour, and the occasional touch of slapstick.

In the central role of Miss Emma Woodhouse, arbiter of society in Highbury and prone to meddling in the affairs of others, Anya Tate-Manning, achieves exactly the right combination of dignity, self importance and occasionally silliness which make Emma so endearing.

Her fellow cast members are kept very busy, switching between the story’s numerous other characters with speed and aplomb.

Mel Dodge has enormous fun with some of the more extraordinary characters, including girlish Harriet Smith, foolish Miss Bates and the loathsome Mrs. Elton. Patrick Davies also throws himself into the plethora of roles, including the shy Mr. Robert Martin, the slimy Mr. Elton, kindly Mr. John Knightly, and the dashing Mr. Frank Churchill.

Julia Croft brings a nice touch to the more subdued roles of Mrs. Weston and Jane Fairfax, and hams it up as the doddery Mr. Woodhouse. Tim Foley is sincerity and strength personified as Mr. Knightly and Mr. Weston, and adds to the fun as the elderly Mrs. Bates.

This production of Emma which continues until May 10, seldom puts a foot wrong, and is a delightful diversion. A highly recommended play.

Audience votes Fortune’s ‘Emma’ good enough to tour nationally

By Cerisse Denhardt – the Star Newspaper April 21, 2009

ADMIRING audience members at the third performance of Jane Austen’s Emma on Tuesday night would like the production to be performed throughout the country.

The play runs from April 18 until May 10 at the Fortune Theatre, and there was not a seat spare on the third night.

A forum was held after the show by director Lisa Warrington and the actors, during which the audience could ask questions. More than 50 people stayed.

Audience members praised the production and suggested it be performed in Auckland and Wellington.

Warrington, who has directed about 30 plays at the Fortune Theatre, welcomed the idea.

“We would love it to happen. [The Actors] would be very keen to because they all enjoy the production” said Warrington.

“I’m very proud of the show. It should be seen in other places”.

It was possible for the play to be performed throughout New Zealand, she said.

“There are certainly theatres where it could happen”.

She commended the effort of the actors. “They really have done a fantastic job”.

Actor Tim Foley, recognised for his previous role as Dr Mark Weston on Shortland Street, was interested in taking the play to other New Zealand centres.

“All of us could do with the work”, he said.

The cast had rehearsed for four weeks and Warrington said the days had been very long.

“It was very hard work but very rewarding work”, she said.

Anya Tate-Manning, who played the leading role as Emma Woodhouse, said Emma’s politeness had taught her a lot.

“I learn a lot about manners. We don’t talk like that any more,” she said.

Cerisse Denhardt is an Aoraki Polytechnic student.