Oscar E Moore

Love won.  Love lost.  Love regained.  In short, the main plot of PERSUASION.  This exceedingly well put together, charming, theatrical, humorous, anachronistic, engaging bare bones production of Jane Austen’s final romantic novel beautifully adapted by Sarah Rose Kearns is a wonder to behold in its world premiere.

If you are acquainted with the Elliots and the Musgroves all the better.  I was a bit confused.  There are no programs distributed.  Everything now is e-tickets and websites.  Fortunately at www.bedlam.org/persuasion you will discover all you need to know to enjoy this production one hundred percent.  Including a Family Tree of the various characters.

“Will you marry me?”  These extremely important romantic and loving four words bookend this inventive production superbly directed by Eric Tucker.

Images (terrific staging).  Bonnets and boots.  Sounds (bird whistles, rain drops, and unseen passion). Strong willed, memorable characters.  Some forlorn sheep and outlandish situations will remain with you long after you have figured out who is who and what is what as this diverse, non-traditional ensemble – a truly exceptional ensemble, as all ten actors (some portraying multiple characters) are on the same wave length in style and substance – totally in sync with Jane Austen and her equally talented scribe Sarah Rose Kearns – going through their never boring paces.

At two hours and forty five minutes with intermission this all somehow works.  The actors winning us over with their ability to bring to life the characters of the past on a basically bare stage with a few metal chairs, a piano, some painted backdrops, with make-shift lighting effects illuminating a whole lot of ingenuity and creativity.

Our would-be lovers are Anne Elliot (Arielle Yoder) and Captain Wentworth (Rajesh Bose).  She is persuaded by family and friends not marry him as he has no social status and no money.  And so they go their separate ways until 8 years later when they are reunited.

A comic celebratory dance at the finale is the cherry on top of this charming confection.

Check out the Family Tree.  Enjoy the play.  It is certainly worth the long trek over to the Connelly Theater at 220 East 4^th Street between Avenue A and Avenue B.  Through Oct 31, 2021.  PROOF OF VACCINATION, PHOTO ID AND MASK REQUIRED!

The Company:

RAJESH BOSE • ANNABEL CAPPER • SHAUN BENNET FAUNTLEROY

YONATAN GEBEYEHU • CAROLINE GROGAN • CLAIRE HSU • SARAH ROSE KEARNS

RANDOLPH CURTIS RAND • NANDITA SHENOY • JAMIE SMITHSON • ARIELLE YODER

lighting design  LES DICKERT

costume design  CHARLOTTE PALMER-LANE

scenic design  JOHN MCDERMOTT

props design  CLIFTON CHADICK

intimacy direction  JUDI LEWIS OCKLER

choreography  SUSANNAH MILLONZI

sound design  JANE SHAW

casting representative  EB CASTING

press agent  POLK & CO.

production manager  ZACH JENKINS

production stage manager  BRETT ANDERS

directed by  ERIC TUCKER

Photo:  Ashley Garrett

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