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| Sharon Rietkerk (left), Antoinette Comer and Lucinda Hitchcock Cone. (Kevin Berne photo) |
Two sisters left bereft by the death of their father
in 1815 must fend for themselves in the musical adaptation of Jane Austen’s
“Sense and Sensibility,” presented by TheatreWorks Silicon Valley in its
regional premiere.
With book, music and lyrics by Paul Gordon, this
adaptation often allows the characters to sing their private thoughts and
emotions.
But one character who has no problem being open with
her emotions is Marianne, (Antoinette
Comer), the younger of the Dashwood sisters and the “sensibility” of the title.
Her sister, Elinor (Sharon Rietkerk), is more
reserved and proper, the “sense.”
After their brother, John (Nick Nakashima), and his
greedy wife, Fanny (Melissa WolfKlain), leave the sisters with no home or
money, a cousin, Lord Middleton (Colin Thomson), and his mother-in-law, Mrs.
Jennings (Lucinda Hitchcock Cone), kindly offer them the use of a cottage in
the country.
There they meet Edward Ferrars (Darrell Morris Jr.),
who takes an immediate liking to Elinor, but he’s too shy and tongue-tied to
let her know.
For her part, Marianne falls hard (literally) for
the dashing Mr. Willoughby (Hunter Ryan Herdlicka), while a neighbor, Colonel
Brandon (Noel Anthony), is smitten by her, too.
As the story unfolds, misunderstandings arise and
secrets are revealed, but somehow everything turns out for the best.
This production marks another triumph for its
director, Robert Kelley, TheatreWorks’ recently retired founder and artistic
director.
It starts with the superb cast anchored by the
stately, dignified stage presence of Rietkerk as Elinor.
Comer as Marianne is more open and impulsive, yet
the loving bond between the sisters in unshakeable.
The three principal men – Morris as Edward, Anthony
as Colonel Brandon and Herdlicka as Willoughby – are well suited to their
differing roles.
Comic relief comes from Thomson as Lord Middleton
and Cone as Mrs. Jennings, who’s both good-hearted and gossipy. When they made
their first entrance, I fully expected them to break into “Master of the House”
from “Les Miserables.”
Everyone in the cast sings and blends well,
accompanied by the four-member orchestra that includes musical director William
Liberatore on piano.
Augmented by a few set pieces, Joe Ragey’s scenic
design relies primarily on period landscape paintings projected in a gilded oval
frame.
When it comes to design elements, though, Fumiko
Bielefeldt’s elegant costumes are the clear stars.
Lighting by Steven B. Mannshardt and sound by Jeff
Mockus complement the effects.
Running about two and a half hours with an
intermission, this not-to-be-missed
“Sense and Sensibility” continues through April 3 at the Lucie Stern
Theatre, 1305 Middlefield Road, Palo Alto.
For tickets and information, call (877) 662-8978 or
visit www.theatreworks.org.
The show also will be video streamed with details to
be announced.
