A Broadway-Style Take on Austen’s Heartwarming 1816 Comedy
By Eric Marchese
Many a novel, play or movie is so significant it endures for decades or centuries, earning the distinction of being deemed classics.
In literature, Jane Austen’s works have stood the test of time. “Sense and Sensibility,” “Pride and Prejudice” and “Emma,” all written during the 1810s, have been depicted, reworked, and adapted on multiple occasions, paving the way for greater interest in lesser-known Austen works like “Persuasion,” “Northanger Abbey” and “Mansfield Park.”
Proving particularly popular is “Emma.” Adaptations for stage, screen, radio, and television of it are rife, among the most recent of which is “Jane Austen’s Emma, the Musical” from 2018.
That year, Paul Gordon wrote the book, music, and lyrics, and the same year, Chance Theater produced the show’s Orange County premiere, directed by Casey Long.
Now, this Broadway-style musical version of one of Austen’s most beloved characters is back, with Long once again at the helm.
The veteran director said he’s “excited to return to the world of Jane Austen and this unforgettable romantic comedy,” calling it “one of the funniest and most romantic stories we’ve brought to the stage.”
Further bolstering the continuous interest in and excitement toward the author’s thematically rich, expertly written stories is Long’s observation that “there’s a reason Austen’s work continues to resonate and inspire new adaptations,” citing as an example Anya Taylor-Joy’s 2020 version as among the most recent.
A Comedically Heartwarming, Self-Made Matchmaker
For those unfamiliar with the storyline, the novel – and its various adaptations – revolves around the exploits of Emma Woodhouse, a disaster-prone, self-styled matchmaker who ignores her own romantic feelings while setting out to find a suitor for her friend Harriet.
Of course, Emma’s efforts go awry, leading to any number of comic complications. Director Long said the story leads audiences through countless entanglements and heartwarming discoveries, and said this “Emma” is “a tale about the joy of finding love in unexpected places and the fulfillment of embracing your community.”
Long elaborated, saying that “much like Austen’s classic novel,” the show at Chance “is about love of all kinds – romantic, familial, and friendly – and a strong sense of community. Early on, Emma befriends an orphan and is determined to help her. Meanwhile, the snobbish characters who look down on others without remorse are dissatisfied with their lives.”
The show, Long said, “is about learning who you really are and not just who you want the world to think you are. Our protagonist is a young lady who has lived a life of privilege where almost everyone has always praised her to the heavens. She thinks she knows exactly what love is, what marriage means, and what people should want out of life.”
But as Austen shows us – and the musical depicts – “slowly,” Emma “learns that she doesn’t know anything about anything. And so does just about every other character in the show. What carries us through the story, though, is Emma’s purity of heart, her willingness to see when she's done wrong, and her desire to be better.”
Chance’s Second Go-Round with Emma
Long said the previous time he directed the show at Chance, “the stage was different.” Since the current stage is reconfigurable, “my design team and I have a wider canvas to work with this time around, and we’ve been playing with some new staging.”
He noted that in exploring, preparing, and rehearsing the show, he and his cast have been “exploring a new approach, which is a byproduct of dealing with such rich source material.”
A talented ensemble of 12 actors brings the show’s themes to life, with Mandy Foster and Jeff Lowe reprising their 2018 roles as Emma Woodhouse and George Knightley. Glenn Koppel also returns as Mr. Woodhouse.
The cast features Sadie Alexander as Harriet Smith, Deva Marie Gregory as Miss Bates, Davide Costa as Mr. Elton, and Cynthia C. Espinoza as Mrs. Elton. Blake Rhiner takes on Frank Churchill, Sierra Jimenez portrays Jane Fairfax, Luc Clopton is Robert Martin, Jonathon Lamer plays Mr. Weston, and Elisabeth Hunter appears as Mrs. Weston.
Lex Leigh handles the musical direction of Gordon’s score, and Long noted that “many of the same designers” from the previous production have returned. Costume designer Bruce Goodrich is joined by associate designer Gwen Sloan, while Haven Hanson designs the wigs. Scenic and lighting design is handled by Masako Tobaru, with James Markoski managing sound design and adapting Kristin Campbell Coyne’s original projection design. Wyn Moreno serves as dialect coach, Jordan Jones is stage manager, Carina Leland assists as stage manager, and Laurie Smits Staude takes on dramaturg duties.
Long said he is “really excited to be able to revisit this romantic and hilarious musical with some really catchy songs that I have been unsuccessful at getting out of my head for the last couple of months.”
What Audiences Can Expect
“The fun challenge” of staging the show, he said, “is that the aesthetic has always been to enhance the intimacy by stripping away any frills or spectacle. We have a main platform, four book flats, and a projection screen to establish settings.”
Just the same, “audiences will still enjoy a high caliber of production value – especially Bruce Goodrich’s costumes, which will wow you!”
This musical version of “Emma,” Long pointed out, “has been staged at some regional theatres across the country, and I’m sure they’re all lovely since Paul Gordon has done a great job adapting Austen’s novel.”
“However, I like to think that audiences will find our production wholly entrancing due to the remarkable performances they will see in our intimate venue. Just like I have heard with our other holiday musicals, audiences feel like they rediscover the story when they see it come to life at the Chance.”
The Anaheim company’s annual Holiday Literature productions “really focus on the rich characters in these timeless stories – and those in attendance will find themselves completely carried away by the joy of a story that has maintained a rabid fandom for centuries.”
Eric Marchese has written about numerous subjects for more than 39 years as a freelance and staff journalist at a wide variety of publications, but is best known as a critic, feature writer and news reporter covering theatre and the arts throughout Orange County and beyond.
‘Jane Austen’s Emma, the Musical’
Chance Theater
Bette Aitken Theatre Arts Center
5522 E. La Palma Ave., Anaheim, CA
December 7 - 22, 2024
(888) 455-4212, www.ChanceTheater.com
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