Cranford at Garrick Theatre

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Thu 10 Jul 2014 - Sat 26 Jul 2014

There are similarities to be drawn between Elizabeth Gaskell and Jane Austen. Both were women writers at a time when women were not expected to do much beyond run the household staff, embroidery, play the fortepiano and sing a little.



Both were the daughters of pastors, both wrote about the society they knew well and their novels are accurate reflections of the social milieu in which they moved.

There are differences, however. Jane Austen, who died in 1817, published anonymously and didn't want to be known as an author, whereas Elizabeth Gaskell, who was only seven years old when Jane died, was proud of being an author and published prolifically - a reflection of the changing times.



Mrs Gaskell spent her early life living with an aunt and grandparents in Knutsford, which times and place she later wrote about thinly disguised as Cranford.

Cranford, published in 1851 as a serial, is a nostalgic look back at times already then well past and is a gentle, affectionate look at the the then village and the stir caused by the arrival of a mysterious man.



The play Cranford was adapted by Martyn Coleman, and is now being produced at Garrick Theatre in Guildford by veteran director, Ailsa Travers who had this to say about it; "It's set after the Napoleonic wars when women were in the majority. This show has the advantage of being funny as well as pretty to look at. This one appealed because I have directed many period plays and it had many parts for women."

Set in the 1830s, the play has been described as a "witty comedy of manners" and made into a 2007 BBC television series featuring Dame Judi Dench, Dame Eileen Atkins and Michael Gambon.



Travers has put together a splendid cast of community theatre stalwarts, actors such as Kerry Goode, Veronica Fourie, Susan Vincent, Di graham and Rosemary Mowbray, whom we have all seen many times.

This delightful play promises to be great fun.

Cranford plays at 8pm, July 10, 11, 12, 16, 17, 18, 19, 24, 25 and 26 with 2pm matinees on July 13 and 20.

Tickets are $20, $17 concession, $15 children – book on 9378 1990 or email: [email protected].

Garrick Theatre is at 16 Meadow Street, Guildford, opposite the Stirling Arms Hotel and Guildford Town Hall.



#comedy
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#july
!date 10/07/2014 -- 26/07/2014
%wnperth