Engaging, impressive and natural performances in Sense and Sensibility 2017

“Sense and Sensibility” 2017 was an impressive play, in classic Reed’s style, with moving stage, pop soundtrack, two parallel eras and no seats. 

Jess Mason as Elinor and Maddie Disney as her young passionate sister, Marianne, acted and sang their hearts out from the first scene to the very last, and the audience was hooked. They enabled the large and talented cast to perform around them in a whirlwind of broken promises, unrequited love and emboldened characters, mirrored expertly by the con¬stantly changing stage and space. 

Supporting the impressive leads, the girls’ mother and younger sibling, played by Charlotte Gray and Cameron Anderson respectively, provided natural performances and their roles in the novel were reflected by the acting relationships on set. 

The casting was inspired too, as the fit of Sam Moldon to Edward Ferrars, and of Beau Roberts to the dashing Willoughby, for example, were spot on. Frankie Cragg was a convincingly unpleasant Fanny Dashwood and Piers Montgomery and Anna Leigh-Pollitt were at the vanguard of the play’s humour as the indefatigable Sir John Middleton and Mrs Jennings. 

I also enjoyed the interventions from Jane Austen herself (played by Serena Fleming) as we did occasionally need some direction as an audience and a minute or so to catch our breath. It gave so many pupils a chance to perform in front of generous audiences and it engaged with our community. Congratulations to everyone involved!

Ian Clapp, Senior Master