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30th October - 3rd November
Occasionally serious, occasionally humorous, the stage dramatisation of Jane Austen’s celebrated novel Northanger Abbey kept the packed auditorium spellbound until curtain fall.
The strength and pace of this production was sustained throughout the performance. The actors' presence never waned, with the absolute portrayal of each character upheld by a casting of just eight. Catherine Morland, the protagonist of Jane Austen’s novel Northanger Abbey, was played by Jenni Maitland, who managed to convey her character’s fanciful spirit and dramatised imagination with distinction. A both skilful and entertaining adaptation of the classic Austen novel.
Northanger Abbey tells the tale of a seventeen year old Catherine Morland, a girl caught up in the fantasies of her beloved gothic novels, whose aunt and uncle take her for a six-week stay in sophisticated Bath. Austen brings Catherine’s favourite novel: Anne Radcliffe's The Mysteries of Udolpho, into the drama with the actors adopting the roles of Radcliffe’s tormented characters at various instances in the production in order to give exhibition to Catherine’s vivid imagination.
The simplistic set of eight swinging doors were used to excellent effect to split up the staging and make the entire production more proficient and dynamic. The stormed lighting and stunning sound effects complemented the humor of this production.
However, the almost bare set from which the the show was brought to life was more than compensated for by the stunning period dress, the entire cast attired in authentic Georgian fashions. The solitary musical accompaniment of a piano effectively carried the scenes; the chorography complemented by an atmospheric background.
Overall, this beautifully crafted production provided a fantastic evenings entertainment. Northanger Abbey is a fabulous depiction of a true classic of literature; with passionate drama and comic relief provided in equally generous measures. A both accomplished and amusing adaptation of the timeless Austen tale.
Nicole Gull and Charlotte Seager
30th October 2007 |