Whether you are landed gentry, a common farmer, or a young lady with no parents or prospects, Miss Emma Woodhouse of Highbury will be sure to put you in your place-matrimonially or otherwise. Jane Austen's Emma plays on Book-It Repertory Theatre's stage at the Center House Theatre October 20- November 22.
Jane Austen's fourth novel is a sparkling comedy of 19th-century manners centering on the well-intentioned Emma and her sometimes indiscreet, often misapplied, and always entertaining efforts as matchmaker. Clever, intelligent, and spoiled, Emma takes it upon herself to arrange a suitable marriage for her poor friend Harriet. But despite her advantages, she is oblivious to the true nature of almost everyone around her-including herself-until at last she happily loses her own heart. Austen's deliciously droll descriptions, ironic observations, and generous happy endings are Book-It fan favorites.
Jane Austen was born December 16, 1775 at Steventon near Basingstoke in England, the seventh child of a country clergyman and his wife. The family lived in various locales-most famously Bath. Unlike her heroines, Jane Austen never married. In 1811, at the age of 35, she published Sense and Sensibility, which identified the author as -a Lady.? Pride and Prejudice followed in 1813, Mansfield Park in 1814, and Emma in 1815. Austen died July 18, 1817, and was buried in Winchester Cathedral where her headstone does not mention that she was an author. Persuasion and Northanger Abbey were published together in December 1817 with a -Biographical Notice? in which she was, for the first time in one of her novels, identified as the author of all her works. Her novels have never been out of print.
Book-It has enjoyed success with previous adaptations of Jane Austen novels. In 2000, (Emma director) Marcus Goodwin adapted and directed Pride and Prejudice; the company subsequently produced that adaptation again in 2002 under the direction of Co-Artistic Director Jane Jones. Persuasion, during the 2007-2008 season, was directed by Co-Artistic Director Myra Platt and adapted by Jen Taylor and Colin Byrne. All three earlier productions broke box office records for the company. Emma is adapted by Rachel Atkins who most recently served as dramaturg and translator for Night Flight during the 2008-09 season. Her previous adaptations for Book-It include Rhoda: A Life in Stories, Rebecca, Minty, The Journey That Saved Curious George, and the upcoming Johnny Appleseed. Rachel is a master teaching artist and the scriptwriter for Living Voices.
Directing
Emma is Marcus Goodwin, whose previous work with the company, in addition to Pride and
Prejudice, includes The House of Mirth and Howards End. Goodwin is exploring the function of class and status of the citizens of Highbury, the hamlet in which Emma is set, through the interactions of the characters. -Society was very stratified in Regency England, and how people behaved within the system brings about Austen's delightful dramas, he said. -Beneath all the wit and banter,? Goodwin adds, -is a story about redemption and forgiveness, and such
stories are the profoundest stories of all.? Marcus Goodwin has worked with Batignano Opera Festival, Italy, HarroGate Theatre, UK, Open Hand Productions, Oxford & Cambridge, and primarily works as a TV drama writer for BBC TV. He is currently writing an original play with an environmental theme for Seattle Children's Theatre.
The cast of Emma includes Sylvie Davidson as Emma, Dylan Chalfy as the dashing Mr. Knightly, with John Bianchi, Emily Grogen, Ashley Marshall, Brian Thompson, among others. The setting is by Scenic Designer Andrea Bush; period costumes are by Deane Middleton, lighting is by Andrew Smith, and sound design by Robertson Witmer. The country dances are choreographed by Laura Ferri.
