Jane Austen's Holiday Fayre:
A Potpourri of Regency Delights

Created and Directed by Joan Bryans Co-Director: Andree Karas Lighting and Technical Direction: Darren W. Hales Costumes: The United Players Harpsichordist: Frances Herzer Stage Manager: Donna Roald

Members of the Company: John Cousins, James Gill, Frances Herzer John Harris, Luisa Jojic, Tommy Kavadias, Janet Shields, Richard Strachan, Lara Tansay, and David Wallace

Venue: Jericho Arts Centre
Dates: 3 - 12 January 2003

Reviewer: Jane Penistan

How delightful to leave the damp darkness of a January night to enter the warmth and charm of a drawing room of an earlier age, be regaled with mulled cider and maids of honour pastries, and served by uniformed maids! Thus starting the New Year in style, the United Players have concocted a pleasant evening's entertainment with a well chosen anthology from some of the works of the Austen family and other late eighteenth-century writers.

Opening with a popular song by Richard Brindsley Sheridan, sung by the gentlemen of the cast, the programme progresses through the humorous writings of both Jane and her brother, James Austen, to an extract from Sheridan's The Riivals, performed as it might have been by the family and friends and servants, as were scenes from Townley's High Life Below Stairs. Interspersed are other songs sung by Luisa Jojic, and by the company chorus. The music is arranged by Joan Bryans with harpsichord accompaniment by Frances Herzer, also a member of the cast.

This very enjoyable evening's entertainment is unusual and well worth savouring. It runs from 3-12 January 2003, Thursday through Sunday at 20.00. at Jericho Arts Centre, 1675 Discovery Street. Tickets $12-15 are available at the door or by telephone 604-224-8007, or visit www.unitedplayers.com for reservations and more information.

© 2002, Jane Penistan