Sense and Sensibility at Melville Theatre

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Posted 2019-04-03 by groover ⇒ follow

Fri 03 May 2019 - Sat 18 May 2019

Flirtatious fancies and considerable charm form an integral part of the playful-but-faithful adaptation of Jane Austen's Sense and Sensibility, the latest offering from Melville Theatre. Adapted by Kate Hamill in 2016 and directed by Vanessa Jensen, the Austen classic tells the story of the Dashwood sisters and the path their life takes after the sudden death of their father.

Evicted from their family home by uncaring relations, and left both financially and socially vulnerable, the three sisters and their mother move to a simpler life in Devonshire. Like all Austen stories, Sense and Sensibility is set in England in the early 19th century and is concerned with inheritance, real estate, income, reputation, love and the possibility – and necessity – of making a suitable match.

"Having directed Pride and Prejudice in 2007 and Emma in 2012, it seemed time to do another Austen given Sense and Sensibility is one of her most popular novels," Vanessa said. "The previous ones I directed were quite traditional but this version by Kate Hamill has a more modern feel to it. "It's still set in the early 1800s and the language is still faithful to the time and Austen's writing – but the style and structure of the play itself has an energy and humour that is noticeably different. Hamill has created a chorus of high-society creatures, the Gossips, and this adds a wickedly funny dimension to the story."

The main challenge, according to Vanessa, is the fast and frenetic pace of the play. "Aside from the two main characters of Elinor and Marianne, everyone else plays multiple roles, with little or no costume or setting changes," she said. "Ensuring each actor clearly and distinctly portrays these different characters, so the audience can follow the story, is the biggest challenge."

First appearing on stage as an eight-year-old and directing her first show at 14, Vanessa has a wealth of theatre experience behind her. She wrote, directed, stage-managed and acted in various shows at Curtin University's Hayman Theatre over a four-year period and has staged a plethora of successful productions at the Old Mill and Melville Theatres.

Vanessa has plenty of best director and best play awards and nominations to her credit for shows including Away, Jamie's Chooks, Twelve Angry Men, Mr Bailey's Minder, Amadeus, Rabbit Hole and Love, Loss and What I Wore. "After directing two contemporary, small cast dramas in a row, with Stop Kiss in 2017 and Mr Bailey's Minder in 2018, I was looking for something very different with a large cast and perhaps a period setting," she said. "As an avid Austen fan, Sense and Sensibility seemed the perfect fit."

Michelle Ezzy plays Marianne Dashwood, a character she describes as a passionate, romantic young woman. "She's a very open person and does not hide her opinions or feelings," she said. "Marianne is quick-witted and intelligent, so the love of her life has to appreciate music and literature. "She feels everything deeply and, as such, tends to be extremely happy or very upset. The main challenge is making sure I don't paraphrase my dialogue because it's very easy to slip in modern language if you aren't word perfect."

Since 2013, Michelle has been a trumpet player in pit orchestras for the musicals Hairspray and The Phantom of the Opera at Limelight Theatre, Oliver!, Mary Poppins and The Phantom of the Opera with Stray Cats Theatre Company and The Pirates of Penzance at Phoenix Theatre. She was the musical director of Anything Goes in 2014 and has worked on Shrek Jnr, Legally Blonde Jnr, The Little Mermaid Jnr, Little Shop of Horrors and Guys and Dolls Jnr at John Curtin College of the Arts as director, vocal coach and choreographer over the past few years.

Stepping up to the stage in 2017, Michelle has appeared in Oklahoma!, Mort and Robin Hood: The Truth Behind the Green Tights at Roleystone Theatre, Between Wind and Water with Agelink Theatre and 1916: A Love Story at Marloo Theatre. "I've always loved Jane Austen novels so getting to live inside the story was too good to be true," she said. "I saw Vanessa's production of Mr Bailey's Minder last year and was blown away so I jumped at the chance to be in Sense and Sensibility."

Sense and Sensibility plays at 8pm May 3, 4, 9, 10, 11, 16, 17 and 18 with a 2pm matinee on May 12. Tickets are $20, $15 concession – book on 9330 4565 or at www.meltheco.org.au .
Melville Theatre is at 393A Canning Highway (corner of Stock Road), Palmyra.