Stage adaptation of EMMA in Scotland and Canada
We received a note from Martin Millar to tell us that his stage adaptation of EMMA (different from the post below this one), originally staged at the Edinburgh Festival in 1999, will be staged by the Arkle Theatre Company at the Wynd Theatre in Melrose, Scotland on October 6-8 and by Amicus Productions in Toronto, Canada on December 8-11.
The production seems to be modern in tone but not setting. Martin’s Web site has more information about the play (click on “Film/Theatre” and scroll down a bit), including reviews from previous stagings.
This irreverent but affectionate adaptation of Jane Austen’s novel, by actress and comedian Doon MacKichan and novelist Martin Millar, is so speedy you could call it an Austen Allegro. Several hundred pages of snobbery, wit, heartbreak and romance are skimmed over in just 100 minutes, accompanied by contemporary visual gags, sardonic asides, and music from bands as diverse as the Jackson Five and the Prodigy.
As always, if you go, we would love to publish your review.
September 23rd, 2005 at 2:29 pm
Oh, oh! Why don’t they stage some of these closer to me so I could see them!!! Where? By backyard would be just great!
September 29th, 2005 at 7:00 pm
Actually I saw the original in 1999 and it has since appeared twice more - in neither case so well done. It has also been published. It is a very offbeat production - the roles of Jane Austen and Mr Knightley are doubled (the actress wore a long coat which was thrown back to reveal breeches) and the same actor played Mr Woodhouse (buttons coat up to neck with cravat just showing, Mr Elton (reverses cravat into dog-collar) Mr Martin (tears off cravat, opens shirt and picks up stuffed lamb) and Mrs Cole (wraps cravat round head to look like cap). The premise is that 3 of Jane Austen’s nieces, with their top halves in regency style dresses but split to reveal leggings and trainers below, are sneaking a look at Emma while she sleeps, she wakes up and they act out the book, with the help of two actors and one actress - Jane taking Mr Knightley and the girls alternating the female roles except for Emma. The only parts to be played conventionally, without any doubling and in correct dress were Emma and Frank Churchill (every mention of whose name was greeted with screams by the nieces as if he was a pop star. There were numerous anachronisms, like Jane Fairfax making continual references to Proust and Emma singing Oh Mio Babbino Caro. In short, it was very weird indeed but also funny and at times - for example when Emma insults Miss Bates and everyone on stage goes absolutely still and stares at her - very effective.