Lady Susan

Writer/Director: Kathryn Attwood (adapted from Jane Austen's novel)

Venue: Arun House, Horsham (an open air production)

Reviews of Lady Susan

NODA review by Jose Harrison 

Last Friday evening was a series of firsts not only for me but also for the rest of the audience. To begin with we took our own table, chairs and rugs and sat out in a beautiful garden on a delightful summers evening with our picnics and were transported in time to the 1800s. Jane Austen wrote many books which have been seen on stage or film but this was another first because Lady Susan was only in book form until Kathryn Attwood decided to turn it into a play. She then directed this delightful piece maintaining the atmosphere expected in an Austen novel. The costumes, shoes and hair styles were correct, the set cleverly organised to provide a period style living room and the garden well used to depict all the many different scenes taking place outside the house. Add to this the fact that this is a brand new society performing their very first production and what a superb production it turned out to be. Lady Susan herself was played outstandingly by Lisa Falkner as the coquettish, flirting merry widow was hardly ever off the ‘stage’ performing brilliant ‘asides’ talking to the audience whilst other members of the cast sat or stood quietly talking amongst themselves reading books or doing needlepoint. The three suitors who were set on a dalliance with the widow were very different. Kevin Summers as Mainwaring, a married man with a sickly wife, Barry Syder as Sir James Martin, elderly and rather decrepit who fancied a younger flirt and Tom Hounsham as Reginald De Courcy 10 years her junior, easily swayed and very gullible. All three of these very different suitors were totally convincing and a pleasure to watch. Add to this Lady Susan’s family, her sadly neglected and very unloved daughter (Alicia Marson), her brother-in-law (Chris Dale) typically bored with female chat and female company and his wife (Emily Hale) who is gentle motherly but very unimpressed with her unwanted guest staying in her house. Again each one of these walked, sat and stood correctly for the era giving convincing performances. Five more members of cast added their support to this excellent team who entertained so superbly on a lovely summers evening. I have seldom enjoyed a play more with its idyllic setting and convincing acting. I would gladly go again this coming week-end and recommend this to anyone looking for a summer’s evening picnic.

Lawrence Smith - West Sussex County Times

The comic novella Lady Susan isn't one of Jane Austen's best known works, but as this adaptation by Kathryn Attwood shows, maybe it should be. The plot revolves around the unscrupulous Lady Susan Vernon - "four months a widow" but not exactly sad about it - who is seeking a new husband and isn't afraid to target several men at once. Lisa Falkner has a lot resting on her shoulders as Lady Susan but does well in a part that requires her to both narrate and be the centre of the play's action. Her conversational tone is appealing and funny as she explains her motives and schemes to the audience, despite her very limited sympathy for others. This is nicely balanced by the wary Catherine Vernon (Emily Hale) who fixes Lady Susan with an icy glare at the slightest sign of mischief. Mr Vernon, on the other hand (played by the reliably entertaining Chris Dale) seems oblivious to everything and buries his nose in a newspaper. There are too many characters to mention all performers by name but each actor contributes positively to the ensemble with a couple of very memorable examples. Tom Hounsham offers an amusing performance as Reginald de Courcy. His character's apparent insouciance is revealed to be naivety as Lady Susan manipulates him easily. Barry Syder offers the play's funniest moments as Sir James Martin, a randy older 'gentleman' who takes a little too long to kiss the hand of a beautiful woman. The garden of Arun House is a pleasant environment for this kind of play. The performers' voices carry well in the warm air and the chirping birds provide a delightful soundtrack to the whole production.

And from the audience:

"I loved ‘Lady Susan”!! A wonderful play in a charming setting.The dialogue was witty and entertaining, and unlike modern TV dramas I could hear every word, in spite of being sat at the ‘back’. The facial expressions of the actors and actresses, in particular the leading lady, were a joy to see, and exemplary timing made the most of the comic moments. This was the only Austen book I hadn’t read and I can’t wait to get my hands on it and enjoy the story all over again. I understand that it is formed entirely of letters, but here it was transformed seamlessly into a thoroughly entertaining play. The garden setting was delightful with the beautiful backdrop of Arun House, the overall impression was of an exclusive event of which I feel privileged to have been a part. Thank you."

"We had not been to a performance by Lights & Bushels before, we loved it! A most enjoyable evening in a lovely setting."

"I came with a party last night and we all just loved the whole thing. Very witty and laugh-out-loud funny, gorgeous costumes, everyone very good indeed and weren't we lucky with the weather!!"

"I really did enjoy the play last night at Arun House, it was so well performed and a lovely setting too."