By Carol Davis
SAN DIEGO—Regardless of what Emma Woodhouse does in the business of matchmaking, the fact that Patti Murin inhabits her body, makes the new Jane Austen’s “Emma A Musical Romantic Comedy” with lyrics and book by Paul Gordon (Jane Eyre) and directed and choreographed by Jeff Calhoun (“Bonnie and Clyde at the La Jolla Playhouse) worth seeing.
This new musical now being given a delectable and delicious airing at the Old Globe Theatre on the Donald and Darlene Shiley Stage, winds its way through Emma’s mismatch after mismatch in matchmaking on Tobin Ost’s colorful set consisting of a maze of hedges in the center of the stage with characters poking up through the bushes when we least expect them and then again when we do expect them. A turntable moves the characters in and out of the picture with ease as pillars drop down defining the outside. Michael Gilliam’s subdued lighting design sheds it perfect glow on the entire set.
Austen’s story of the little rich girl, ‘so clever, spoiled and handsome’ with too much time on her hands and delving into the mysteries of matchmaking is a perfect vehicle for all theatre audiences especially with the well-balanced cast on hand to carry out the duties of Austen’s characters. But it’s Ms. Murin you’ll want to pay attention to. She simply shines as Emma whether she’s frowning, petulant looking, singing or just being Emma.
Perfectly set in period fitting costumes (Denitsa Bliznakova), Austen’s early 1800’s comedy of manners about what some of the idle rich do with their time and how they regard relationships is at the center of this Jane Austen’s Emma, A Musical Romantic Comedy.
Often overlooking the obvious and with one mishap after the other, Emma Woodhouse decides that she will never marry, much to the pleasure of her grumpy father, Mr. Woodhouse (Richert Easley is consistently boring throughout). He grumbles that ‘marriage is an inconvenience’. She, instead, will meddle into other’s romances.
In her own inimitable way, Emma forges on to take it upon herself to find eligible bachelors for those close to her while not recognizing love hanging right under her nose, especially by the one person with whom she disagrees on every turn.
On the heels of her successful matchmaking of her governess, Mrs. Weston, (Amanda Naughton) with their widower neighbor Mr. Weston (Don Noble) she is energized to continue the practice of matchmaking since they seem blissfully happy.
Now Emma concentrates her energies on Harriet Smith (a delightful Dani Marcus with a beautiful rich voice), a close friend but of unknown lineage. Her first try is with Philip Elton (Brian Herndon, not the most likeable guy on the block) the stuck up vicar who secretly wants Emma.
After convincing Harriet that the young man she has fallen for Mr. Robert Martin (wonderfully played by Adam Daveline) a farmer who lacks the credentials of a ‘gentleman’, Harriet concentrates her efforts on trying to like Elton. When the vicar realizes that Emma is trying to push Harriet on him, he hightails it out of sight only to come back with his own choice of a wife and for a while we don’t see Mr. Martin.
That puts both women in an awkward situation, but much to Emma’s survival techniques she bounces back. She then sets her sights on Frank Churchill (Will Reynolds) who is considered a good match for Emma, by those in the know, since he is Mr. Weston’s son from a former marriage. But Emma thinks differently and pushes Harriet toward Churchill.
He turns out to be somewhat of a bore and a pain in Emma’s side as he surprises everyone by becoming engaged to one of Emma’s rivals, the lovely and sophisticated Jane Fairfax (Allison Spratt Pearce) who is both beautiful and an accomplished pianist. So much for Harriet and or Emma’s chances of romance with him.
Closely watching from the sidelines and seeing all this monkey business is the smitten but cynical Mr. Knightly (the handsome Adam Monley) a close family friend of Emma’s who usually puts the stops on Emma when he thinks she is overstepping her bounds. He of course irritates the heck out of her with the attention paid to her by him.
She ignores his adoration for and patience with her (even while it’s right under her nose) as well as his suggestions to stop meddling. She’s a pretty strong willed and stubborn young woman, which is why she’s always at odds with the rest of her peers. But it surely is fun to watch her and her antics.
Be that as it may, all this harmless drama is played out against the backdrop of Paul Gordon’s twenty five or so musical numbers under the musical direction of Brad Haak, with conductor Laura Bergquist and her six piece orchestra navigating through some pretty wonderful and clever lyrics: “Mr. Robert Martin”, “So This is How Love Feels”, “Humiliation”, “Emma” (sung beautifully by Adam Monley in his strong baritone voice) and “It’s Confusing”… trying to sort out all the relatives and relatives of the relatives.
Sorting out the characters and the social dilemmas they find themselves in in this production however, is not all that confusing and you will leave the theater smiling with them and possibly humming “Mr. Robert Martin.”
Hats off to Jeff Calhoun and Paul Gordon…good choice!
See you at the theatre.
Dates: Through March 6th
Organization: The Old Globe
Phone: 619-234- 5623
Production Type: Musical
Where: 1363 Old Globe Way in Balboa Park
Ticket Prices: $39.00-$94.00
Web: TheOldGlobe.org
Venue: The Old Globe Theatre