Technical aspects echo the two-time-zone mood with an abstract, color-splashed set on a classic-arched backdrop projected with beautiful scene-establishing artwork by Claire Peterson. The period furniture is mostly on wheels, rolling within as well as between artfully choreographed scene changes. The “carriage rides” are a hoot. It’s not a musical but there is notable choreography. (Lauren Mudry)
Director Mary Job has orchestrated a fine group of actors to draw us in. Emily Brannam is the “sense” more reserved older sister Elinor, and Vivian Brown is the “sensibility” younger sister Mariane. (Wikipedia tells me that “sensibility” at that time meant ruled by emotions.) Both are excellent, drawing us into the politics of love and money and marriage after inheritance mishaps lower their social status.
Most of the other actors play more than one character as well as floating in and out of a “Gossip” chorus of animated tsk-tsk-ers passing judgment and spreading rumors. Lukas Nowak was the dashing Willoughby, object of Mariane’s desires, and Caleb Tracy brought a self-effacing charm to lure the more serious Elinor. Tresor Sylla was the kind, dignified, older-and-wiser alternative, Colonel Brandon.
The double roles that impressed me the most were Sarah Lehman as the reserved Dashwood mother, and also the very UNreserved and ditzy Anne Steele — and Hannah Spencer as the snobby Lucy Steele and also the hilariously child-like little sister Margaret. (She and the charmingly rude “Son” Xia Skowronek from Trail to Oregon should find/write a spunky-child script to feature both of them.) Danni Bott, Nick Lemmer, Lucas Arand and Juliana Blain rounded out this stage society with style.
This LCC Black Box is not a large space and it was pretty full, so I’d recommend reservations to assure admission https://secure.touchnet.com/C20118_ustores/web/store_cat.jsp?STOREID=40&CATID=314 though tickets will be available at the box office while they last.
You can enter the Black Box on the south end of Gannon Building, facing Grand Avenue — OR park in the LCC ramp and follow the signs to 1422 Gannon Building.
Sense and Sensibility continues through November 19.