Wurtele Thrust Stage / Sept 10 – Oct 29, 2016 adapted by KATE HAMILL based on the novel by JANE AUSTEN STUDY GUIDE Inside THE PLAY Synopsis and Characters • 3 Meet the Characters • 5 Comments on the Novel • 7 THE AUTHOR Jane Austen: A Literary Context • 10 About the Author • 12 Jane Austen in Her Own Words • 15 On Jane Austen’s Work • 16 CULTURAL CONTEXT Do you live in a cottage? • 17 The Sensibility Sensation • 18 A Selected Glossary of Terms • 20 About the Adaptor and Director • 24 A Conversation with Kate Hamill and Sarah Rasmussen • 26 THE GUTHRIE PRODUCTION Notes from the Creative Team • 28 ADDITIONAL INFORMATION For Further Understanding • 30 Play guides are made possible by Guthrie Theater Study Guide Copyright 2016 DRAMATURG Carla Steen GRAPHIC DESIGNER Akemi Waldusky RESEARCH Jillian Jensen, Dan Burson, Landon Randolph, Ailsa Staub, Carla Steen Guthrie Theater, 818 South 2nd Street, Minneapolis, MN 55415 All rights reserved. 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This activity is made possible in part by the Minnesota State Arts Board, through an appropriation by the Minnesota State Minnesota to the peoples of the world. Legislature. The Minnesota State Arts Board received additional funds to support this activity from the National Endowment for the Arts. 2 \ GUTHRIE THEATER THE PLAY points to an imminent proposal, Willoughby abruptly leaves for Synopsis London on business for his aunt. The whole family – especially Upon the sudden death of Mr. He introduces them to their new Marianne – is left confused and Dashwood, his son John inherits neighbors, including Sir John’s devastated. After a short visit from his estate of Norland, and with nosy but loving mother-in-law Mrs. Edward Ferrars rekindles his and it, a large fortune. John’s father Jennings, and the kind-hearted Elinor’s affections, Mrs. Jennings gives him one command, to Colonel Brandon. It is evident to introduces the sisters Lucy and “provide for your stepmother and all that the Colonel is immediately Anne Steele. Lucy confides to her her daughters.” After John’s wife taken with Marianne, but she does new “friend” Elinor that Mr. Edward Fanny convinces him otherwise, not share his affection because of Ferrars is actually her secret fiancé. the Dashwood girls – sensible his advanced age of 35. Elinor must now keep Lucy’s secret Elinor, romantic Marianne and the while also hiding her own love for young Margaret – and their mother After taking a fall during a walk, Edward. are left nearly destitute. However, Marianne is rescued by Mr. John their sister-in-law does have one Willoughby, a suave and handsome Mrs. Jennings offers to take the redeeming quality: her handsome, young man. It is revealed that Dashwoods with her to London if shy, brother Mr. Edward Ferrars. he is expected to inherit a large for the fashionable winter season. The eldest sister, Elinor, quickly fortune from his aunt as well as her Marianne enthusiastically agrees, captures his attention. nearby estate. Willoughby begins Elinor less so, but accompanies to woo Marianne, much to her her sister to London anyway. The Dashwood women are forced delight. Elinor keeps Willoughby Marianne finally finds Willoughby to leave their home at Norland and Marianne in check, cautious and discovers he is engaged for a cheaper cottage across of her sister’s sensibilities and to another, much richer, lady. England, generously provided by Willoughby’s smooth-talking While Marianne languishes, their boisterous cousin, Sir John. manner. Then, just when every sign Colonel Brandon discloses the GUTHRIE THEATER \ 3 THE PLAY PHOTO: LAUREN MUELLER Jolly Abraham and Alejandra Escalante PHOTO: DAN NORMAN Members of the cast of Sense & Sensibility truth to Elinor: Marianne is not Robert. Edward is befriended by instead of for love. Elinor takes pity, the only woman Willoughby has Colonel Brandon, who offers him but knows his very presence could deceived – Brandon’s young ward, the vicarage on his estate. Soon, it shock her sister into even greater the daughter of his childhood is time to leave London and return peril. Full of misery, Willoughby sweetheart, received Willoughby’s home, but Mrs. Jennings insists on leaves the house and never sees affections as well. Marianne a quick stop to visit her younger Marianne again. Colonel Brandon chooses to look past her lover’s daughter’s family, the Palmers. arrives with Mrs. Dashwood and misconduct and continues to pine Marianne objects – she is not sees Marianne through her illness. for Willoughby. only anxious to be home, but the Her feelings for Willoughby give Palmers’ home is much too close way to affection for Brandon. John Dashwood visits his to Willoughby. Colonel Brandon stepsisters in London. He invites obligingly accompanies them so Edward arrives to reveal that, after the girls to a party with the Steeles, that the girls can have a chance to his fortune was lost, Lucy Steele where they finally meet Fanny and continue their journey homeward set her heart on his brother Robert Edward’s mother, the formidable with a chaperone. and now the two are married. Mrs. Ferrars. During the party, Lucy Edward is at last free to propose to again confides in Elinor about While at the Palmers’ home, Elinor, which she happily accepts. her feelings for Edward. Then, though, Marianne is caught walking Marianne also accepts the Colonel’s scandal erupts. While on a visit in a storm and falls dangerously ill. hand. to Mr. and Mrs. John Dashwood, When Brandon leaves to retrieve Anne Steele tells Fanny about her mother, a drunken Willoughby Lucy and Edward’s engagement. arrives to see Marianne. He is When Edward chooses to stand stopped just in time by Elinor. He by the engagement, he is cast out confesses to her that he truly loved from his family, and his inheritance Marianne the whole time, but felt is given to his younger brother too pressured to marry for wealth 4 \ GUTHRIE THEATER THE PLAY Meet the Characters As described by Jane Austen in Sense and Sensibility but as she had already imbibed a not handsome, and his manners good deal of Marianne’s romance, required intimacy to make them without having much of her sense, pleasing. He was too diffident to she did not, at thirteen, bid fair do justice to himself; but when his to equal her sisters at a more natural shyness was overcome, his advanced period of life. behaviour gave every indication PHOTO: LAUREN MUELLER of an open, affectionate heart. Jolly Abraham and Alejandra Escalante MRS. DASHWOOD His understanding was good, and So acutely did Mrs. Dashwood his education had given it solid feel this ungracious behavior, and improvement. But he was neither ELINOR DASHWOOD so earnestly did she despise her fitted by abilities nor disposition Elinor, this eldest daughter, whose daughter-in-law for it, that, on the to answer the wishes of his advice was so effectual, possessed arrival of the latter, she would have mother and sister, who longed to a strength of understanding, and quitted the house for ever, had see him distinguished—as—they coolness of judgment, which not the entreaty of her eldest girl hardly knew what. They wanted qualified her, though only nineteen, induced her first to reflect on the him to make a fine figure in the to be the counsellor of her mother, propriety of going, and her own world in some manner or other. and enabled her frequently to tender love for all her three children His mother wished to interest counteract, to the advantage of determined her afterwards to stay, him in political concerns, to get them all, that eagerness of mind and for their sakes avoid a breach him into parliament, or to see in Mrs. Dashwood which must with their brother. him connected with some of the generally have led to imprudence. great men of the day. Mrs. John She had an excellent heart;—her JOHN AND FANNY DASHWOOD Dashwood wished it likewise; disposition was affectionate, and He was not an ill-disposed young but in the mean while, till one of her feelings were strong; but she man, unless to be rather cold these superior blessings could be knew how to govern them: it was a hearted and rather selfish is to be attained, it would have quieted knowledge which her mother had ill-disposed: but he was, in general, her ambition to see him driving a yet to learn; and which one of her well respected; for he conducted barouche. But Edward had no turn sisters had resolved never to be himself with propriety in the for great men or barouches. All taught. discharge of his ordinary duties. his wishes centered in domestic Had he married a more amiable comfort and the quiet of private MARIANNE DASHWOOD woman, he might have been made life.