By a Lady at Theatre by the Lake Keswick Review
DISCLOSURE – TICKETS TO SEE THE SHOW WERE GIFTED TO THE REVIEWER AND GUEST FOR THE PURPOSES OF WRITING THE REVIEW
Reviewed by Jo Hardy
Presented by Hambletts Productions and directed by Judy Reaves, with Jane Austen’s words adapted by Deirdre Shields and accompanied by the highly entertaining music of David Le Page and Nick Stringfellow, By a Lady tells the life story of Jane Austen through her own words and scenes from her books. This piece was originally commissioned by and premiered at the Stratford Literary Festival. It is a brilliant reminder of Jane Austen’s wit and writing skills.
The stars of the show are Rachel Paris and Doon Mackichan, who between them play Jane, her sister Cassandra, and many of the characters from Jane’s books. The transitions between the varied characters were seamless and totally believable. Their diction was perfect, every word crystal clear, they had no props apart from the book they were reading from but it was so easy to become completely immersed in the story. They had the whole audience transfixed from start to finish. I had forgotten how funny Jane Austen could be and I did enjoy revisiting some of the characters from her books.
The set design was minimal: four chairs, two side tables, two music stands, and a voile curtain backdrop. The costumes, too, were very minimal, apart from the elaborate jackets that the musicians wore when they entered the stage, which they took off before sitting down to reveal plain white shirts. That was all that was needed; this show is all about the words and the music.
Two very talented musicians, Nick Stringfellow on cello and David Le Page on violin, accompanied the story. The musical interludes were often very funny, featuring modern pieces that matched the action, and were sometimes beautiful and rather emotional, although quite short each piece got a round of applause from the audience.
I became so immersed in the storytelling that time became irrelevant, and I was startled when it was time for the interval, a bit like being gently woken from a lovely dream. The same thing happened when it came to the end; I could have happily watched it for another hour.
Born in 1775 at a time when women were expected to be wives and mothers, Jane Austen was concerned about prejudice and judgement, so she did not put her name to her novels. The title pages simply read “By a Lady”. And what a lady she was. Her stories have stood the test of time they are still relevant today and have frequently been adapted for TV and film. She never became a wife or mother but thought of her books as children. It was lovely to hear about the life of this great woman. As I left the theatre, I reflected on all the beautiful words that were used and how I wish we still used them; today’s language seems very dull in comparison.
Jane Austen has a huge global following, but even if you’re not an avid fan and are not so familiar with her stories, I think you would still enjoy the show. If you are a fan, you will absolutely love it. Playing to a packed house on a Tuesday night really shows just how popular she is.
The show runs for 1 hour and 45 minutes, including an interval, and is suitable for ages 12 and up.
Currently on tour and showing at Theatre by the Lake on 9 June for one night only, ticket prices are £12–£35.
theatrebythelake.com
Other dates and information about the tour can be found on the production company’s website, hamblettsproduction.com
Rating: 5/5