Five Reasons to See…Austen’s Women
Austen’s Women is playing at the Leicester Square
Theatre until 9 May, following a successful run at last year’s
Edinburgh Fringe. The show sees co-writer and performer, Rebecca
Vaughan, take on 13 of the 19th-century novelist’s most fascinating
characters. Here, Vaughan gives us five good reasons to see the play
and read the work of Jane Austen.
1. She’s still relevant
Austen
really understands what it is to be human – with all its frailty,
manipulation, hidden agendas, lack of self knowledge, heartache and
selfishness, as well as its beauty, humour, love and friendship. The
women she creates are women we all know – whether it’s the woman who is
complaining that her husband has gone out to have a good time while
she’s left at home looking after the kids, or the girl who’s just had
her heart broken, or the woman who loves to be seen to be doing more
than anyone else. Take away the long frocks,and they’re still women
trying to make sense of the world around them.
2. She is very funny (and a brilliant satirist too!)
The
show retains the voice of the satirical and intelligent narrator –
often impossible to include in television adaptations. This voice (is
it Austen herself?) is acerbic and witty, and is one of Austen’s
trademarks. In fact, the whole play uses only the words of Jane Austen
herself – and revels in it.
3. She’s an early feminist
As
a woman ahead of her time, having to write anonymously (it was
seriously frowned upon for a woman to write), she reveals the ways in
which women were trapped by the stringent societal codes of the day.
She asks the basic feminist questions – why can’t women be on an equal
footing with their partners, why should girls not be educated to the
same standard as boys, and why can’t women be allowed to marry for love
and affection, where possible – all inspiring attitudes for the early
19th-century.
4. There’s a fabulous costume
Made
bespoke for the show, using period fabrics and patterns, it shows the
construction of the Regency woman – from corset and chemise to full
blown ball gown. When the costume was finally brought to rehearsal, it
revealed just how much the corset and the sheer number of layers
affected a woman’s ability to move and breathe (no wonder they were so
sedentary!).
5. There’s something for everyone
If
you’ve never read or seen any Austen before, this is the perfect
introduction as the show brings these women alive and gives a snapshot
of all her work. And if you’re already a fan, the show will introduce
you to some characters you may not have met before, including Diana
Parker (Sanditon), Mary Stanhope (The Three
Sisters), and Elizabeth Watson (The
Watsons) – alongside the many well loved characters of
course!
