Just as Canada celebrates Thanksgiving a month ahead of the USA’s Thanksgiving, the North American premieres of ITV’s Northanger Abbey, Mansfield Park, and Persuasion can be seen on TVOntario (TVO) in December 2007, a month before PBS’ Complete Jane Austen begins:
All three films will air Sunday nights starting at 9:00 p.m.
JASNA president and Friend of AustenBlog Marsha Huff has been profiled in the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel. The article points out that she brings many talents to the position along with her affection for Jane Austen’s work.
And then there are the spinoffs and merchandising, everything from an action figure to sequel novels to movies such as “Becoming Jane.”
All of which makes a Milwaukee lawyer with a pixie haircut and impish grin quite happy, and a bit chagrined.
“Right now she needs an agent, but all of her stuff is out of copyright,” said Marsha Huff, the lawyer in question.
Imagine that book deal! Though we suspect that not nearly so many films would be made of Jane’s novels if the studios actually had to pay her royalties.
“The thing that sets (Jane Austen’s heroines) apart is their mind,” she said.
They usually are “brighter and more insightful” than other women in her books and “question the system they are in,” she said.
“It is a miracle to me that Jane Austen thought that way at a time when women had an inferior place in society,” she said.
Isn’t it grand? 
Theater Ten Ten will stage a production of “Innocent Diversions, A Christmas Entertainment with Jane Austen and Friends,” written and directed by Lynn Marie Macy, from November 16 through December 16, 2007.
December 1803, Miss Jane Austen, her family & friends have arrived at Manydown Park, the Hampshire estate of the Bigg-Wither family for a Christmas celebration. At the persistent urging of her hosts, Jane has consented to be Mistress of Ceremonies and preside over their Holiday theatricals, which are to highlight her own outrageously funny early writings. Jane leads her friends and loved ones through comedic interpretations of various fictional characters, novels, short stories, plays and poetry. Friendship and family ties are put to the test when romance “erupts” within the ranks of the players and it is up to Jane to dry the tears, mend the broken hearts and save their Christmas performance from disaster.
If Innocent Diversions is as good as Ms. Macy’s stage adaptation of Northanger Abbey, then it is very good indeed.
Dates of performances are November l6-19, 30, December 1-3, 6, 8-10, 13-16, and there will be no performances on Thanksgiving weekend. All Friday, Saturday, and Monday performances are at 8 p.m. All Sundays have two performances at 3 p.m. and 6 p.m. There are two Thursday performances on December 6 & 13, both with an early 7 p.m. curtain. Running time is 90 minutes with no intermission.
Tickets are $20 and may be purchased by calling 212-352-3101 or online at www.theater1010.com. Theater Ten Ten is located at 1010 Park Avenue, between 84th & 85th Street in New York City.
The Salisbury Theatre’s production of Tim Luscombe’s adaptation of Northanger Abbey will be on stage at the Everyman Theatre in Cheltenham from Monday, November 5 to Saturday, November 10. Tickets are £9 to £24 and are available at the Everyman Theatre box office or by phone.
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