“Hate me, forget me, but do not tell me how to feel,” Marienne Dashwood said.
The crew and cast of Clarence Brown Theatre’s “Sense and Sensibility” deserved no less than a standing ovation for their performance — a witty, emotional and relatable production. The audience filled the theatre with laughter, ooh’s and ahh’s throughout the entirety of the show.
The plot
“Sense and Sensibility” opens with the death of Mr. Dashwood, father of Marienne and Elinor Dashwood, played by Develyn Jayan and McKinley Merrit, respectively. The two girls then move to a smaller home in a more affordable town, along with their younger sister and mother. Town locals welcome them with open arms.
As the girls go through this change in life, their love interests take center stage. Elinor, deeply in love with Edward Ferrar, who she had to leave behind, finds herself lost after their departure. While Elinor won’t admit that her feelings are as deep as they truly are, Marienne knows how much she cares for Edward.
Elinor waits patiently for Edward to visit but when he finally does, she is met with confusion on where they stand. This confusion only leads to more problems as Mrs. Ferrar plans to arrange a wedding for Edward that Elinor knew about, but kept secret.
Marienne is caught up in her own love life. After a fall in the rain, she is rescued by Mr. Willoughby, who is staying with his rich cousin — until his cousin cuts him off and he must head back to London.
Marienne is left with little to no information about his whereabouts, and so the girls take a trip to the city alongside the well-meaning yet overbearing Mrs. Jennings. The plot unfolds in the wrong direction. Mr. Willoughby has moved on with dollar bills the only thing on his mind, leaving Marienne so sick she is bedridden.
Elinor finally opens up to Marienne about Edward, and the two girls realize that the love they are searching for is right in front of them: sisterly love, unlike any other.
Attention to detail
The set was simple, yet elegant. Vines and flowers draped in every corner, a cloudy blue sky as the backdrop, chandeliers with a rose gold tint, dark wood furniture and a checkered floor made it come alive.
The elegance of the stage made the costumes look even more glamorous than imagined. Marienne wears a sage green gown with pink accents and pink ballet shoes to match, while Elinor is adorned in a royal blue gown and a cream scarf. On stage, the two’s wardrobes complemented each other perfectly — almost as perfectly as their characters. The rest of the cast were dressed in bright yellows, reds, blues, greens, purples and pinks. The vibrant colors meet the eye first, but the layering of different fabrics can’t be overlooked.
The “gossips” are visualizations of the rumours being spread through town. Dressed in neutral tones, they could often be found holding props to blend into the environment. During scenes outside, the gossips held branches and twirled around the stage — imitating trees while symbolizing how fast gossip moves through the air, like leaves in the wind.
Space and resources were used creatively. Floating harnesses imitated dogs and horses, while carriage rides consisted of umbrellas as wheels, leaving much to the audience’s imagination.
In the end, the girls receive their “happily ever after” ending, but you must see the play to know what that is.
Productions at Clarence Brown Theatre never fail to surprise and excite the audience, and “Sense and Sensibility” does just that from beginning to end. While the story being told is centuries old, the lessons learned by the Dashwood sisters still ring true today.
