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Overview

Synopsis

When their father dies unexpectedly, the future seems bleak for the Dashwood sisters of Norland Park, as their older half-brother inherits the estate, and they are impoverished. Spineless brother John and his haughty, stingy wife, Fanny, establish themselves immediately after the funeral, leaving Mrs. Dashwood and her three daughters as unwelcome guests in their own home. A silver lining emerges when Fanny’s kind, mild-mannered brother, Edward Ferrars, comes for a visit, and develops a friendship with sensible eldest sister, Elinor… is it merely esteem and admiration, or something more? Sensitive, emotional middle sister Marianne is sure that Edward is passionately in love, but cautious Elinor takes nothing for granted. The Dashwoods move to their new home, a cottage on the estate of cousin Sir John Middleton, before the romantic potential can be realized. Once established in rural Devonshire, Marianne acquires two suitors of her own: Colonel Brandon, whose age and quietly melancholy disposition leave her cold, and John Willoughby, a handsome, dashing man, passionately fond of poetry, who rescues her from a rainy ramble gone awry. Eagerly giving her heart to Willoughby, Marianne does not bother to hide her preference, scorning the strictures of convention and the scoldings of her elder sister that she should modify her behavior or risk damaging her reputation. When Willoughby leaves without warning or promise, cutting off all contact, and is discovered to have married a wealthy heiress, Marianne’s heartbreak endangers her health and exposes her to the ridicule of society. And when Elinor discovers that Edward is secretly engaged to manipulative fortune-hunter Lucy Steele, her own hopes for happiness are dashed. Supported by their love for each other, the Dashwood sisters must navigate the delicate rules of Regency society, and question their own fixed characters and beliefs, before they can arrive at not-quite-fairytale happy endings. The spectacular comedic characters, unforgettable relationships, and emotional truths of Jane Austen’s classic novel are brought to life in Kate Hamill’s brilliantly funny, fast-paced stage adaptation of Sense and Sensibility, which utilizes a chorus of lively Gossips to enhance the sense of a socially stifling world, and encourages inventive choreography, bold characterization, and creative doubling to produce a fresh take on a well-beloved story.

Note: Playwright Hamill encourages an ensemble of creatively double-cast actors, but sets no rules on cast size or which characters should double with which, other than that the actors playing Elinor and Marianne should not be doubled.

Show Information

Based on the Play/Book/Film
Sense and Sensibility by Jane Austen
Category
Play
Age Guidance
Youth (Y)/General Audiences (G)
Number of Acts
2
First Produced
2014
Genres
Comedy, Romance
Settings
Period, Multiple Settings, Simple/No Set
Time & Place
1790s, England
Cast Size
large
Ideal For
College/University, Community Theatre, Ensemble Cast, High School, Professional Theatre, Regional Theatre, Mostly Female Cast, Includes Late Teen, Young Adult, Child, Early Teen, Adult, Mature Adult Characters, Large Cast

Context

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Plot

Characters

Name Part Size Gender Vocal Part

Elinor Dashwood

Lead

Female

Spoken

Marianne Dashwood

Lead

Female

Spoken

Margaret Dashwood

Supporting

Female

Spoken

Mrs. Dashwood

Supporting

Female

Spoken

John Dashwood

Supporting

Male

Spoken

Fanny (Ferrars) Dashwood

Supporting

Female

Spoken

Edward Ferrars

Supporting

Male

Spoken

Colonel Brandon

Supporting

Male

Spoken

John Willoughby

Supporting

Male

Spoken

Sir John Middleton

Supporting

Male

Spoken

Mrs. Jennings

Supporting

Female

Spoken

Lucy Steele

Supporting

Female

Spoken

Anne Steele

Supporting

Female

Spoken

Lady Middleton

Featured

Female

Spoken

Robert Ferrars

Featured

Male

Non-singer

Doctor

Featured

Male

Spoken

Gossips

Ensemble

Either Gender

Spoken

Servants

Ensemble

Either Gender

Spoken, Silent

Songs

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A song with an asterisk (*) before the title indicates a dance number; a character listed in a song with an asterisk (*) by the character's name indicates that the character exclusively serves as a dancer in this song, which is sung by other characters.

Monologues

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Scenes

All scenes are the property and copyright of their owners. Scenes are presented on StageAgent for educational purposes only. If you would like to give a public performance of this scene, please obtain authorization from the appropriate licensor.

Key Terms

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Videos

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Themes, Symbols & Motifs

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Quote Analysis

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