Sense and Sensibility at The Little Theatre Leicester Review
DISCLOSURE – TICKETS TO SEE THE SHOW WERE GIFTED TO THE REVIEWER AND GUEST FOR THE PURPOSES OF WRITING THE REVIEW
Reviewed by Lindsay Burton
Sense and Sensibility stands as a brilliant example of why Jane Austen remains such a towering figure in English literature, blending sharp social insight with enduring emotional depth. And last night was my 12-year-old daughter’s first time watching anything originally created by this pioneer of the modern novel.
The Little Theatre in Leicestershire is currently showcasing this production, adapted by Jessica Swale. An elegant but minimal set design graced the stage as we meet the Dashwood ladies who have just found themselves in a sad predicament that ultimately meant they could no longer live in their current abode, even worse, they would have to get used to a much simpler life – and fast.
Mrs Dashwood (Mary Delahunty), Miss Elinor Dashwood (Rose Adams), Miss Marianne Dashwood (Jacqueline Ardron), and Miss Margaret Dashwood (Amélie Wilson-Knight) are presented as a close and warm family, happily settled at Norland Park in the 1790s, where their lives are moulded by both their strong bond and the social expectations of the time. In this setting, each sister’s personality begins to appear—Elinor’s steady sense of duty, Marianne’s emotional strength, and Margaret’s young inquisitiveness—while their mother affords nurture and encouragement. Nevertheless, beneath this peaceful and fortunate lifestyle is the constant worry surrounding their financial future, which soon has them leaving Norland and settling into a far simpler way of life, which is the start of the story’s emotional challenges.
Sense and Sensibility is mainly about two of the sisters who deal with love and life in very different ways. Elinor is level-headed and pragmatic, carefully restraining her feelings, while Marianne is intensely emotional and unafraid to show her feelings. The story follows what happens to them after their family loses their fortune and place in society if not for friends and family helping – and they must get used to a more modest life, especially when it comes to relationships.
As both older sisters experience sorrow and distress—Elinor silently dealing with her feelings for Edward, and Marianne becoming consumed by her romantic involvement with Willoughby—Jane Austen highlights the highs and lows of being too controlled versus too expressive. Elinor’s approach can feel a bit contained, while Marianne’s finds her in trouble, and the story ultimately implies that a strong equilibrium between both would be the best way forward.
The cast showed some exceptional talent and I must mention some other key characters – David Knight (Edward / Robert Ferrars), Bhav Bhalla (John Willoughby) and Tom Young (Colonel Brandon) made some formidable love interests for the young sisters. Darren Hawes (Thomas Palmer) created quite a few laughs even though he didn’t get to say much thanks to his very talkative and loud wife Charlotte Palmer (played by Gemma Wright). And then Molly Georgina made a formidable Fanny Dashwood – I really dislike the character which is the point but that was due to the brilliance of the actress making the role her very own!
Overall, it’s a tale of emotional growth. Learning when to exercise restraint, when to be open with emotions, and how to handle love and disappointment in a calmer, more balanced and realistic manner.
Rating: 4/5
https://thelittletheatre.co.uk/whats-on/jane-austens-sense-and-sensibility/