Sense & Sensibility

Brighton Little Theatre’s production utilises Jessica Swale’s adaptation of the classic story, and the script successfully translates the more ruminative Austen work into a funny play. Caroline Lambe’s Mrs Jennings thundered onto the stage and never relinquished the limelight, owning some of the more suggestive lines with voluble charisma and brio.

Katie Newman’s Marianne Dashwood bristled with fickle indignance, whereas the Palmers (portrayed by a boisterous Beky Peake and a scowling Joseph Burnham) were a comedic highlight, a humourous combination of excessive jollity and witheringly arched eyebrows.

A few too many fluffed lines tarnished the immersion somewhat, and some minor shaving of the lengthy runtime might have best served both the pace of the plot and the bum sleepiness of the splayed audience members. Brighton Little Theatre should be applauded however for presenting an entertaining and bawdy romp, and a perfect fit for a fun night out at BOAT.

Brighton Open Air Theatre, 18 July 2018 (Runs until 21 July)

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