Persuasion review

Quite what Jane Austen would make of this very 21st-century updating of her final novel is anyone’s guess, but one thing’s for certain: It’s as innovative and funny an interpretation as you’re likely to see.

The production, which is adapted and directed by Jeff James, with dramaturgy by James Yeatman, was first seen at Manchester’s Royal Exchange in 2017. Its return brings a welcome burst of fun and escapism – there’s something hugely comforting about immersing oneself in the concerns of the Regency marriage market in this age of global crisis.

With nary a bonnet in sight, it’s staged on Alex Lowde’s rotating catwalk stage design, soundtracked by Ben and Max Ringham with a heady blend of modern pop – including Cardi B’s outrageously saucy WAP in this new iteration. The script plays a fairly straight bat and much of the comedy comes from the juxtaposition of contemporary culture and Austen tropes – as well as some enjoyable new nods to partygate and Bridgerton.

Our heroine is Anne Elliot (Sasha Frost) – who at 27 is considered positively geriatric by society. When her indebted father is forced to let out his country house, the new tenant sparks a reunion with her former suitor Frederick Wentworth (Fred Fergus), who has returned from sea a wealthy man. Much of the narrative has been understandably stripped back and certain characters consolidated, but Anne retains her status as one of Austen’s more lovable protagonists.

The production’s major coup de théâtre is a foam party that takes place in Lyme Regis (“oh, we’re going to Lyme Regis” they sing to the tune of the Vengaboys). It’s fantastically good fun, as Wentworth and Anne discover there are plenty of fish by the sea. “Love can save your life,” she’s told by Wentworth’s dashing friend Captain Benwick (Adam Deary), shortly before they share a very un-Austenly snog (there is a lot of snogging). The second half sees the action move to Bath, where there are further twerk-filled gatherings (hat tip to movement director Morgann Runacre-Temple) and a heightening of tensions as Anne is courted by her cousin and heir to the family pile. 

The ensemble throw themselves into things with tongues planted firmly in cheeks – Matilda Bailes and Caroline Moroney having great fun doubling as Elizabeth/Louisa and Mrs Clay/Henrietta respectively (the latter has a lovely meta one-liner), while Frost captures Anne’s mix of grace and existential angst and Fergus is a suitably dashing Wentworth. Grace Cookey-Gam, Emilio Doorgasingh, Dorian Simpson and the young Daniel Aiden Matembe (on press night) all do sterling work as a range of aristos, patriarchs, and ne’er-do-wells.

Persuasion has extended its run to play Alexandra Palace, London from April 7-30