The Stage

Sense And Sensibility

Published Thursday 30 June 2011 at 13:03 by Kevin Berry

Now in its twelfth year of touring, the Chapterhouse is bringing its tried and tested adaptation of Sense and Sensibility to a series of lovely garden venues across the country.

Marcus Houden in Sense And Sensibility at Oakwell Hall Country Park, Batley

Out in the open, of course, Jane Austen’s ironic subtleties are less effective, but the gentle comedy, the romance, the frocks and coats, and the fine singing of love laments make up for that. Some characters, such as Orla Mullan’s Fanny, do stray towards pantomime, but broad strokes are to be expected. Marcus Houden’s Sir John Middleton, in an appropriately vivid characterisation, seems to have leapt straight from Austen’s pages.

Cassandra Hodges and Heather Mason contrast sweetly and most effectively as Elinor and Marianne Dashwood respectively. Mason looks ravishing and makes her character sympathetic - which is quite something

In his debut professional tour, Ed Pemberton is very impressive as the diffident Edward Ferrars, and is more than capable in his other roles.

The action takes place on and around two raised stages - one representing the Dashwood’s former grand home and the other representing the country cottage where circumstances force them to live. Movement is restricted in one crowded sitting room scene, but a dance scene is played quite neatly in the same confined space.

This writer saw Sense and Sensibility at Oakwell Hall, an atmospheric location but quite close to the constant drone of the M62 motorway. Did that deter the actors or the audience? Not at all. It soon faded into the background.