Review: EMMA, Rose Theatre Kingston

Photo credit: Marc Brenner

Another day, another Jane Austen adaptation – at least that’s what it seems like in this anniversary year, but this is something quite different and very entertaining.

Ava Pickett’s version puts our snobbish heroine in contemporary Essex rather than 18th century Surrey, and as a failed graduate returning home. The packed and pleasingly young audience at the Rose, Kingston responded with enthusiasm to the realities of the setting, and this was above all a highly comic take on the story, with the opening line “Emma f*** Woodhouse” indicating that this was going to be a very sweary evening – although not offensively so. The later gasp of disbelief when two of the characters emerged from the same bedroom was a good indication of the involvement of the audience.

We soon meet Mr Woodhouse, Emma’s father, an Arthur Daley type alternating between affection and exasperation for his two daughters. Nigel Lindsay is a very experienced actor and knows just how to get the most from this character, creating a lovable personality despite his dubious activities. Opposite him is Lucy Benjamin as Mrs Bates, in this version the owner of a mobile tanning, waxing and hairdressing service. It’s another remarkable performance, including a spectacular entrance down a staircase when drunk, and Benjamin also appears briefly as a University lecturer. She also gets a great response when she complains “It’s almost as though I’m in a period drama!”

In a cast where four other actors are making their professional debuts, it might have been expected that the younger performers would be overshadowed, but this is far from the case. In smaller roles, Bobby Lockwood makes his mark, especially as Elton and as an unexpectedly athletic vicar, and Josh Bilyard makes an endearing Rob Martin. Emma’s sister Isabella is about to be married, and Jessica Brindle’s performance starts at 100% and then climbs higher – entirely appropriately considering the circumstances as she has to carry much of the farce-like action in the second half of the play.

Her husband to be is John Knightley, played by Adrian Richards as a slightly dim but good-hearted musical theatre fan. It’s a nicely subtle performance that contrasts well with the chaos around him. Kit Young is equally thoughtful as George Knightley, clearly destined to be Emma’s from the moment we first see him, only neither of them realises that. The two of them even deliver identical prat-falls, and yes, George does get to deliver the famous put-down to Emma from the Box Hill picnic scene.

The key to any version of this story is the relationship between the matchmaking Emma and singleton Harriet Smith. In their professional debuts, the two actors in this role lead the company, the production and the narrative with confidence and flair. As Emma, Amelia Kenworthy is suitably blind to her own faults but also conveys the inner uncertainty that will lead to greater self-awareness. Meanwhile, Sofia Oxenham gives a great comic performance, whether forlornly making inappropriate announcements at the Co-op or following Emma’s advice even when she knows it’s not what she wants to do.

A very funny production of a classic story then, directed with authority by Rose Artistic Director Christopher Haydon on Lily Arnold’s adaptable set based on the two levels of the Essex house. Haydon copes well with the requirements of Pickett’s script, which seems to transform during the interval from comic dialogue to all-out farce. This is no bad thing and the first half is perhaps too long, although the pace is always kept up. The rapid delivery by the young characters in particular is authentic but sometimes leads to good lines being lost – and that’s a shame, as this author knows how to write good one-liners. The decision to portray the wedding and some other sections of the narrative in movement only (Kloé Dean) is clever and could be adopted elsewhere to shorten the running time a little.

This production of Emma is great fun, impeccably acted and offers an exhilarating and clever take on a well-loved story.

**** Four stars

Reviewed by: Chris Abbott

Emma plays at Rose Theatre Kingston until 11 October, with further info here.