Wit, charm, and just a touch of the risqué, whether you are a devoted Austen enthusiast or newcomer to the world of drawing rooms and country estates, Austentatious are masters of daft comedy that shall linger long in memory.
My dearest readers,
What an absolutely enchanting evening was had at the Theatre Royal last night! The Austentatious company—renowned for creating entirely spontaneous tales from random audience suggested 'lost' Jane Austin book titles—presented "Swans in Springtime," and what followed was theatrical magic. The swooning was indeed guaranteed!
All the expected Austenesque touches were present: cads with questionable morals, dashing gentlemen who proved rather less dashing than supposed, fierce heroines who refused to be cowed by society's expectations, misunderstandings involving hastily written letters, a mysterious woman threatening the social order, and an assembly ball where secrets were revealed and hearts united. The whip-smart wit crackled throughout with razor-sharp comedic timing. There was even a wonderfully improper scene involving a romantic reawakening over a dead swan—the kind of moment that would set tongues wagging from here to Hove!
The cast proved wonderfully well-practiced, leaning into each other's strengths with ease, performers launching into elaborate physical comedy with the others creating space for such delightful tomfoolery.
Full cast and creative credits here.
Special mention to the on-stage violinist, whose perfectly timed musical accompaniments elevated every scene, and the sprightly lighting technician who bathed our performers in professional illumination. The period costumes transported us immediately to our familiar world of morning calls and country walks.
Even as the plot grew delightfully mad—involving mistaken identity, a awkward emotional assignation that turned into an impromptu dance, malevolent swans stalking people, a visit to the local church with a game of 'Singo' and revelations about long-lost siblings—the performers brought all this beautiful chaos back into a mostly coherent plot with the most satisfying happy ending.
The audience, quite rightly, adored them. Brighton has always appreciated wit, charm, and just a touch of the risqué, and this company delivered all three in abundance.
In short, whether you are a devoted Austen enthusiast or newcomer to the world of drawing rooms and country estates, Austentatious has proven themselves masters of riotous comedy that shall linger long in memory.
Your devoted correspondent, A Most Satisfied Patron of the Arts
Austentatious are currently on UK tour see their next dates here before settling in the West End for regular Mondays performances.
