Jane Austen's Sense & Sensibility

By Paula Parker

The Dashwood sisters, Elinor and Marianne, have very different ideas about the propriety of love. Elinor is temperate and rational, while Marianne is fueled by youthful passions. Cast from their childhood home by the whims of fate, the sisters still manage to attract suitors.

Elinor's quiet beauty attracts the equally quiet and reserved Edward Ferrars, while Marianne's impulsive zest for life draws the attention of both the heroic Colonel Brandon and the charming but roguish John Willoughby. But there are a multitude of obstacles on teh road to romance in Paula K. Parker's sparkling stage adaptation of Jane Austen's beloved novel.

• Language: English
• Publisher: WordCrafts Press
• Release date: Dec 12, 2011
• ISBN: 9781466034846

Book preview

JANE AUSTEN'S SENSE & SENSIBILITY

by

Paula K. Parker

Published by WordCrafts Theatrical Press at Smashwords

Copyright © 2011 Paula K. Parker

Cover art - Courtship by Edmund Blair Leighton - Public Domain

This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return to Smashwords.com and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

This book is also available in print at most online retailers.

CAUTION: Professionals and amateurs are hereby warned that performance of Jane Austen's Sense & Sensibility is subject to payment of a royalty. It is fully protected under the copyright laws of the United States of America, and of all countries covered by the International Copyright Union. All rights, including professional, amateur, motion picture, public reading, broadcast, and any other reproduction by means known or yet to be discovered are strictly reserved.

All rights are controlled exclusively by WordCrafts Theatrical Press, 912 East Lincoln Street, Tullahoma, Tennessee 37388. No performance of this play may be given without obtaining in advance the written permission of WordCrafts Theatrical Press, and paying the requisite fee.

SPECIAL NOTE

Anyone receiving permission to produce Jane Austen's Sense & Sensibility is required to give credit to the Author as the sole and exclusive Author of the Play on the title page of all programs distributed in connection with performances of the Play and in all instances in which the title of the Play appears for purposes of advertising, publicizing or otherwise exploiting the Play. The name of the Author must appear on a separate line, in which no other name appears, immediately beneath the title and in size of type equal to 50% of the size of the largest, most prominent letter used for the title of the Play. No person, firm or entity may receive credit larger or more prominent than that accorded the Author.

Playwright's Notes

on Staging

Jane Austen's Sense & Sensibility

Jane Austen's Sense & Sensibility is wonderful character-driven story that may be played with understated nuance on a minimalistic set. But it is also a marvelous period piece that lends itself to gorgeous costumes and magnificent sets. I've attempted to write the play so that it can be produced on a variety of stages by theatres with either large or small budgets.

I believe it is the responsibility of the playwright to write the play, and that it is the responsibility of the director to direct the play. As such, I have refrained from inserting many stage directions, and grant the director the freedom and license to direct the show as he or she sees fit.

One note I thought important to include regards the significant prop - the pianoforte. Theatre companies who have access to a piano and wish to use it may certainly do so. The pianoforte, however, was not a piano; it was a precursor of the modern day piano. It was much smaller and lighter, and in many cases resembled a rectangular desk. A simulated pianoforte, faced away from the audience, would be quite suitable for this production and would certainly be easier for scene changes.

Blessings,

Paula K. Parker

SCENES

Cast of Characters

Act I

Scene 1 - The parlor at Norland

Scene 2 - The parlor at Norland, a month later

Scene 3 - The parlor at Norland, several weeks later

Scene 4 - The parlor at Barton Cottage, several weeks later

Scene 5 - The parlor at Barton Park, that evening

Scene 6 - The parlor at Barton Cottage the next day

Scene 7 - The parlor at Barton Cottage, the next day

Scene 8 - The parlor at Barton Cottage, several weeks later

Scene 9 - Outside Delaford the next day

Scene 10 - The parlor at Barton Cottage the next day

Scene 11 - The parlor at Barton Park that evening

Act II

Scene 1 - Mrs. Jennings’ London townhouse, two weeks later

Scene 2 - A London townhouse, that evening

Scene 3 - Mrs. Jennings’ townhouse, the next morning

Scene 4 - Mrs. Jennings’ townhouse, the next morning

Scene 5 - Mrs. Jennings’ townhouse, the next morning

Scene 6 - Mrs. Jennings’ townhouse, several days later

Scene 7 - Mrs. Jennings’ townhouse, several days later

Scene 8 - The parlor at Cleveland, several days later

Scene 9 - The bedroom and hall at Cleveland, one week later

Scene 10 - The bedroom and hall at Cleveland, several days later

Scene 11 - Outside Barton Cottage

CHARACTERS

In Order of Appearance

Thomas - the butler at Norland

John Dashwood

Fanny Dashwood - John’s wife

Mrs. Dashwood

Margaret Dashwood

Marianne Dashwood

Elinor Dashwood

Edward Ferrars

Cook

Sir John Middleton

Mrs. Jennings

Butler - at Barton Hall

Colonel Brandon

Mr. Willoughby

Butler - at Delaford

Mrs. (Charlotte) Palmer

Mr. Palmer

Lucy Steele

Express Rider

Johnson - Mrs. Jennings’ Butler

Miss Grey – this character has no lines

Mr. Robert Ferrars

The Doctor

ACT I

Scene 1

SETTING: A parlor at Norland.

AT RISE: THOMAS ushers JOHN and FANNY DASHWOOD into the room.

THOMAS

If you would be so good as to wait in here, Mrs. Dashwood, Mr. Dashwood, I will inform Mrs. Dashwood of your arrival.

JOHN

And you say that my stepmother has not yet left her rooms? What of my sisters?

THOMAS

No, Sir, Mrs. Dashwood has not yet left her rooms. As for the young ladies, I understand that Miss Dashwood is visiting someone in the village who is sick; she informed Cook not to expect her for luncheon. Miss Marianne and Miss Margaret had Cook prepare them a picnic meal and are spending the morning on the far side of Norland, sketching.

FANNY

Really?

JOHN

Thank you, Thomas.

(THOMAS bows and exits.)

FANNY

Still in her rooms? At this hour? John, what must your stepmother be thinking? And your sisters to be absent from the house when we were