THE HANGOVER REPORT – Bedlam’s freewheeling adaptation of SENSE AND SENSIBILITY remains a giddy delight

05SENSEJP-master675Bedlam’s acclaimed production of Jane Austin’s Sense and Sensibility, wonderfully adapted by Kate Hamill, is back at the Gym at Judson, and it’s better than ever. The production seems tighter and more precisely acted than I remember, without sacrificing any of the giddy spontaneity and generous goodwill that made last season’s run such an infectious affair.  Bedlam’s adaptation is a perfect specimen of a staging that possesses what many refer to as “the magic of theater”.  With only a handful of rolling chairs and other mobile props, this incredibly scrappy and smart company is able to comprehensively conjure Austen’s swirling, gossip-driven world that’s only possible on stage (it’s harder for cinematic adaptations to veer away from naturalism without muddling the clarity of the narrative). The potency of the intersection of theatrical suggestion and the imagination cannot be underestimated.

But what makes Bedlam’s adaptation, directed with breathless balletic aplomb by artistic director Erik Tucker, so special is its ability to translate Sense and Sensibility in a way that viscerally registers with contemporary audiences – an approach that has worked wonders for a little musical called Hamilton. But make no mistake, although the company is donned period garb and (attempts to) speak in British accents, they very much utilize an immediately relatable emotional palette, without betraying the spirit of Austen’s underlying work. The cast of ten is simply sensational. In true Bedlam fashion, the ensemble’s the thing that propels the story, instead of individual starring performances. Each actor is onstage as much as any other actor, selflessly helping to tell the story in any way they can.

HIGHLY RECOMMENDED

 

SENSE AND SENSIBILITY
Off-Broadway, Play
Bedlam at the Gym at Judson
2 hours, 15 minutes (with one intermission)
Through April 17

Categories: Off-Broadway, Theater

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