Pennsylvania Shakespeare Festival’s “The Complete Works of Jane Austen, Abridged” is a playfully affectionate and delightfully acted homage to the works of the beloved writer.
The entertaining round-up of Austen’s six major works as well as lesser-known writings, all represented in under 90 minutes without intermission, was written by four women, one of whom is Jessica Bedford, a professor of theater at DeSales University, who also directs.“The Complete Works of Jane Austen, Abridged” is through July 12 in Schubert Theatre, Labuda Center for the Performing Arts, DeSales University, 2755 Station Avenue, Center Valley.
The humorous premise is that two female actors who are admitted “Janeites” are explaining the works of Austen to a new replacement actor who shows up to play the male parts, and knows nothing about Austen’s stories.
The play does a good job of distilling the complex (and character-laden) plots to allow audience members who are not intimately familiar with Austen’s works to follow along, without getting lost.
Although when the trio invited the audience to recite the iconic opening line of “Pride and Prejudice” along with them, a surprising number of people complied.
Madeleine Garcia and Sarah Gliko have plenty of wit and charm as they tackle Austen’s different heroines and are amusing as they argue over which is Austen’s best work. The audience easily gets caught up in the two women’s enthusiasm and sincerity.
The male actor Trevor, is appealing and eager as played by David Pica, as he learns to appreciate Austen’s insight into the people and situations of times.
It is great fun watching the actors do quick changes, sometimes literally just spinning around on stage, and using hats and other props to play dozens of roles.
A good deal of time is spent on “Pride and Prejudice” with Garcia playing the clever Elizabeth Bennet and Pica playing the humorously brooding Mr. Darcy.
In “Sense and Sensibility” Garcia and Gliko are funny as exaggerated versions of the Dashwood sisters, while Pica does double duty as the shy and awkward Edward and the hilariously stiff Colonel Brandon.
Garcia is gratifying as the matchmaking Emma, who humorously comments on her own oblivious-nous to the affection between her and Pica’s George Knightley.
Gliko does a lovely soliloquy on the synopsis of “Persuasion” which gives the cautious Anne Elliot a second chance at love with Captain Wentworth.
Other stories represented include Austen’s early works land unfinished works, “Mansfield Park,” and “Northanger Abbey” which is recast by Pica as a Dungeons & Dragons game in a very funny bit complete with an audience member standing in for a dragon (puppet).
The three actors do an amazing of holding it all together even while moving at a pretty hectic pace, under the deft direction of Bedford.
Gabby S. Trice’s set creates the feel of the Regency period without being over-stuffy and the costumes by Janus Stefanowicz are period appropriate and serve to reinforce Garcia’s assertion that empire waistlines make every woman look busty.
Meet the actors for an informal talk-back after the July 2 and 9 shows.
There will be an audio described for the blind or visually-impaired 2 p.m. July 11.
“Epilogues” a free discussion and a behind-the-scenes look at the show at 10 a.m. July 11 will allow audience members to gain deeper insight and ask questions.
Performances are 7:30 p.m. June 26, July 2, 3, 8, 9 and10; 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. June 27, July 1 and 11; 2 p.m. June 28, July 4, 5 and 12; and 6:30 p.m. June 30 and July 7.
For information, call 610-282-9455, or go to pashakespeare.org/.