Review: PERSUASION, Rose Theatre Kingston

Photo credit: The Other Richard

Ballrooms are replaced by discos and harpsicords by Dua Lipa, Cardi B and Lizzo, in Jeff James and James Yeatman’s adaption of Jane Austen’s Persuasion. 

The story centres around Anne Elliot (Sasha Frost). Money troubles force Anne’s family to rent their home to the Crofts and move away. Eight years before, Mrs Croft’s (Grace Cookey-Gam) brother Frederick Wentworth (Fred Fergus) and Anne were engaged, but Anne was “persuaded” to dump him, as he wasn’t much cop financially and had no prospects. When Anne visits her sister Mary (Helen Cripps) near their family home, Wentworth (now rich and successful) and Anne meet again and she faces up to her choice.  

This re-imagination is funny. A lot of the humour is provided by planting the characters in the present, whilst keeping the story in the 19th century, with the language of Austen and importance of etiquette, decorum and status in her day. A time when women had few options but marriage. 

The impressive set (by Alex Lowde), a rectangular rotating neon lit platform, turns into a disco, catwalk and foam party to depict the seaside. Each scene elicits loud chuckles from us and sets up funny encounters between all the singletons in the piece. 

Anne is sensible and kind if not a bit bad-tempered, pushing people off the platform when they annoy her! On the other hand, her sister Elizabeth and Mary’s sisters in-law Louisa (both Matilda Bailes) and Henrietta (Caroline Moroney) are sillier, as they amusingly navigate finding husbands. Dancing plays a big part in their pursuits but instead of waltzing, there’s hip thrusting. 

Matilda Bailes stands out. Showing her gift for physical comedy with Louisa’s sexually suggestive moves and comic timing in portraying Elizabeth’s desperation to find a husband, both performances could carry a Persuasion spin-off. 

The supporting cast are all comical. Mary and her husband’s (Dorian Simpson) petty arguments are realistic in either century! Adam Deary’s portrayal of Mr. Elliot is the best fit for bridging the centuries as he clearly delivers 19th century lines as a ‘Made in Chelsea’ type suitor. 

But not all the modernisations are totally successful. When Lady someone or other struts down the catwalk, covered head (literally) to toe in a black sequinned catsuit, it feels random which is why it gets a laugh. The costumes are a little odd, seeming to span the styles of the 1990s (crushed velvet dresses) to now, we find ourselves distracted and trying to work out what, if anything, this is trying to say. 

Anne and Wentworth’s reunion is less engaging than the rest of the play. Maybe because they aren’t funny characters, or perhaps we are wowed more by the bubbles, neon and robot dance moves than their attraction. While we understand the point, she should have stuck to her guns and not be “persuaded” against him, some of the complexities of their way back to one another are overshadowed. 

This is a hoot though so doesn’t matter too much as it had us laughing all the way through. With a few tweaks, we think Persuasion in the present has pots of potential. 

*** Three stars

Reviewed by: Victoria Willetts

To book tickets for the Rose Theatre until 19 March, please click here or for its run at Alexandra Palace from 7-30 April, please click here.