Live Performance Review - Austen in Therapy
Austen In Therapy approaches Jane Austen’s iconic literary canon with a fresh, comedic interpretation. This 90-minute play places Austen’s instantly recognisable characters in a therapy group and allows the audience to witness the chaos that unfolds as they each try to unpack their issues.The dynamic blocking and interactive quality to each actor’s performance keeps viewers involved in the historical drama. The theatre-in-the-round staging provided a fresh approach to comedic blocking, as each character co-opts the audience into their arguments, opinions and in-jokes.
Austen in Therapy’s writing includes a postcolonial perspective in its text. The discussion of Asian women and their erasure in 18th century England added depth to one character, but was seemingly skimmed over for the remainder of the play. The situational comedy elements bring value to some aspects of the play but miss the mark in others. Austen In Therapy delivers characters who are a little too self aware for the time period, appearing as if the writer is trying to balance their feminist perspectives against their enjoyment of Jane Austen’s work, resulting in what feels to be a confusing product. The witty barbs and banter worked well, but the emotional climax where each character monologued about their respective issues lost focus of the genre and source material.
Chloe Towan as Marianne and Sonia Marcon as Lady Catherine brightened the play with their excellent comedic delivery. Their unselfconscious depictions of each character immersed the audience in the historical story world, playing each role as if they had walked straight out of one of Jane Austen’s novels. Austen in Therapy fails to stick the landing and resolve its character’s issues, but the strong concept, fun delivery and witty comedy makes it worth a watch for Austen fans.
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Austen in Therapy ran May 28th to June 1st at the Abbotsford Convent. Check out 24 Carrot Productions for more info and other productions here.