Sense and Sensibility
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“Sense and Sensibility” will be presented by the Actors Guild of Parkersburg during the 2019-2020 season. This wonderful adaptation of the Jane Austen novel will surely be a crowd-pleaser.
“Sense and Sensibility” is adapted by Kate Hamill and offered through Dramatists Play Services, Inc.
Set in the 1790s in England, this play concerns the Dashwood sisters, Elinor and Marianne, and their journey into happiness and fulfillment. At a time in which a woman’s value and place in society is based upon her husband and his wealth, Elinor and Marianne face many challenges. Will they find a husband who can secure their position? Or, should society allow strong, intelligent, capable women their own position? The play is filled with subtly funny moments, tender scenes, and broad comedy.
Themes: Female empowerment; society and gossip; generational expectations; love
Leadership Team:
Director – Greg Merritt (contact him at [email protected])
Assistant Director – Danny Bayer
Costumer – Pam Piggott
Advisor – Barbara Full
Auditions: December 1 and 2, 7:00 on both nights
Tech Week: Sunday, February 16 – Thursday, February 20
Dress Week: Sunday, February 23 – Wednesday, February 26
Performance Dates: Friday, February 28 Saturday, February 29
Friday, March 6 Saturday, March 7 Sunday, March 8
Friday, March 13 Saturday, March 14
Strike: Sunday, March 15
Character Descriptions: (Note – a British accent is not necessary for auditions)
The Dashwood Family
Elinor: Late teens - early 20s; serious and sensible; gracious and polite; kind-hearted; cautious
Marianne: Late teens – early 20s; playful and energetic; quick-tempered; polite; sings
Mrs. Dashwood: mid-40s – late 50s; gracious and polite; wise; pleasant; genteel
Margaret: early teens; enthusiastic; polite; age-appropriate behavior; sings
John Dashwood: early 30s – mid-40s; good-natured; desperately in love with Fanny; somewhat clueless
Fanny Ferrars Dashwood: late 20s – mid 40s; mean-spirited, even wicked; spoiled, socially competent
Thomas: a young servant for the Dashwood Family; early-to-mid teens; good-natured
The Ferrars Family
Edward: mid-20s – mid- 30s; serious; awkward; likable
Mrs. Ferrars: late 60s; mean-spirited and wicked; socially competent; loud
Robert: mid-20s – early 30s; a twit
Norland Park
Sir John Middleton: mid-40s – mid-50s; a busybody; pleasant; loves a good time
Lady Middleton: mid-40s – mid-50s; overly socially-conscious
Mrs. Jennings: mid-50s – late 60s; a busybody; jovial, but quick to criticize; loud
Also in the county
Colonel Brandon: mid-40s – mid-50s; good-looking; kind-hearted and helpful; smart; much on his mind
Willoughby: mid-20s – early 30s; very handsome; affable, but ultimately a cad
The Steeles
Lucy: late teens – early 20s; socially awkward, but tries; snooty; always wants more
Anne: late teens – early 20s; socially awkward, but tries; snippy; thinks she can sing
At the Palmers’ Residence
The doctor: older man; serious; knowledgeable
The Gossips (five of them)
Various ages, genders, and sizes; somewhat wicked; must be able to lift and move set pieces
Also
Servants
Party Guests
Ball Guests
Miss Grey: a pretty young woman (non-speaking role)
Jane Williams: a nice teenaged girl (non-speaking role)
Possible Doubles (more doubling than this list is possible)
Gossip 1 with servant(s) and the doctor and a horse
Gossip 2 with Miss Grey and servant(s)
Gossip 3 with Thomas and a dog and a guest at the ball/party
Gossip 4 with servant(s) and a dog and a guest at the ball/party
Gossip 5 with Lady Middleton and Mrs. Ferrars and a guest at the ball/party
John and Fanny Dashwood with guests at the ball (or possibly as themselves at the ball)
Sir John Middleton with servant(s) and guest at the ball/party
“Sense and Sensibility” is adapted by Kate Hamill and offered through Dramatists Play Services, Inc.
Set in the 1790s in England, this play concerns the Dashwood sisters, Elinor and Marianne, and their journey into happiness and fulfillment. At a time in which a woman’s value and place in society is based upon her husband and his wealth, Elinor and Marianne face many challenges. Will they find a husband who can secure their position? Or, should society allow strong, intelligent, capable women their own position? The play is filled with subtly funny moments, tender scenes, and broad comedy.
Themes: Female empowerment; society and gossip; generational expectations; love
Leadership Team:
Director – Greg Merritt (contact him at [email protected])
Assistant Director – Danny Bayer
Costumer – Pam Piggott
Advisor – Barbara Full
Auditions: December 1 and 2, 7:00 on both nights
Tech Week: Sunday, February 16 – Thursday, February 20
Dress Week: Sunday, February 23 – Wednesday, February 26
Performance Dates: Friday, February 28 Saturday, February 29
Friday, March 6 Saturday, March 7 Sunday, March 8
Friday, March 13 Saturday, March 14
Strike: Sunday, March 15
Character Descriptions: (Note – a British accent is not necessary for auditions)
The Dashwood Family
Elinor: Late teens - early 20s; serious and sensible; gracious and polite; kind-hearted; cautious
Marianne: Late teens – early 20s; playful and energetic; quick-tempered; polite; sings
Mrs. Dashwood: mid-40s – late 50s; gracious and polite; wise; pleasant; genteel
Margaret: early teens; enthusiastic; polite; age-appropriate behavior; sings
John Dashwood: early 30s – mid-40s; good-natured; desperately in love with Fanny; somewhat clueless
Fanny Ferrars Dashwood: late 20s – mid 40s; mean-spirited, even wicked; spoiled, socially competent
Thomas: a young servant for the Dashwood Family; early-to-mid teens; good-natured
The Ferrars Family
Edward: mid-20s – mid- 30s; serious; awkward; likable
Mrs. Ferrars: late 60s; mean-spirited and wicked; socially competent; loud
Robert: mid-20s – early 30s; a twit
Norland Park
Sir John Middleton: mid-40s – mid-50s; a busybody; pleasant; loves a good time
Lady Middleton: mid-40s – mid-50s; overly socially-conscious
Mrs. Jennings: mid-50s – late 60s; a busybody; jovial, but quick to criticize; loud
Also in the county
Colonel Brandon: mid-40s – mid-50s; good-looking; kind-hearted and helpful; smart; much on his mind
Willoughby: mid-20s – early 30s; very handsome; affable, but ultimately a cad
The Steeles
Lucy: late teens – early 20s; socially awkward, but tries; snooty; always wants more
Anne: late teens – early 20s; socially awkward, but tries; snippy; thinks she can sing
At the Palmers’ Residence
The doctor: older man; serious; knowledgeable
The Gossips (five of them)
Various ages, genders, and sizes; somewhat wicked; must be able to lift and move set pieces
Also
Servants
Party Guests
Ball Guests
Miss Grey: a pretty young woman (non-speaking role)
Jane Williams: a nice teenaged girl (non-speaking role)
Possible Doubles (more doubling than this list is possible)
Gossip 1 with servant(s) and the doctor and a horse
Gossip 2 with Miss Grey and servant(s)
Gossip 3 with Thomas and a dog and a guest at the ball/party
Gossip 4 with servant(s) and a dog and a guest at the ball/party
Gossip 5 with Lady Middleton and Mrs. Ferrars and a guest at the ball/party
John and Fanny Dashwood with guests at the ball (or possibly as themselves at the ball)
Sir John Middleton with servant(s) and guest at the ball/party