It does not matter how many times you see Jane Austen’s Emma the right woman always gets the right man. Different views as to how is it is arrived at are brought about by who adapts and makes a play from the book, in this case it was Dennis Saunders and Sue Pomeroy. Now maybe if you adapt the book you should not direct the play for it can put you too close to the action, which is what seems to have happened in this case. Sue Pomeroy’s direction seems to have brought muddle by way of serenity to the stage, with characters sitting round and abruptly walking off.

Laura Howard’s Emma gives you the impression that she is acting out the part in some TV drama, but despite this she makes a good job of bringing Emma to life with just the right amount of standoffishness. Luckily for Jonathan Cecil Mr Woodhouse is a character that has an intellect that gives him little trouble and he drifts through the part with ease. Martin Wenner gave the part of Mr Knightley the right amount of charm to make the character of Emma want to possess him. Graham O’Mara’s Reverend Elton’s was played with great comical skill, especially his proposal to Emma. This all played against a background of the obligatory bridge, and statuesque characters who occasionally made an effort to play unfinished accompaniments at a piano and flue. Despite these lesser faults the cast did their best with an experimental approach to a classic story by dancing and romancing their way through the evening.

The audience wanted to be entertained by Jane Austen and they were, but not probably in the way they expected. It was an interesting evening at the theatre and if you do not try something new you will never know what you are missing. © BA

“Emma” is in Hull from the 12th of March until the 16th of March, 2002.