Stage Write

Sense & Sensibility by Jane Austen At its heart, Sense and Sensibility is not about romantic love, though it does include swoon-worthy moments, it’s about the love between sisters. As vastly different as they may be, that connection was deeply understood by Jane Austen and was lovingly captured in this story. Laura Rook is perfect as Elinor; the picture of quiet grace and strength even in the most trying circumstances. Marianne (Samantha Newcomb) is the fire to Rook’s ice and sparkles with passion. Jamal James’ Edward steals all the scenes he’s in. He and Rook have a sweet chemistry that embodies the reserved affection of their characters. This beautiful adaptation by Jessica Swale fleshes out the scenes between Edward and Elinor. It played up lovely moments of humor and used Margaret as a tool for added interaction between the characters. Director Marti Lyons makes use of every moments. The audience was so swept up that some people were gasping and calling characters names...

  What matters most, the creative process or just the facts? That’s the question debated in The Lifespan of a Fact, on stage now at the Phoenix Theatre. In this latest production from American Lives Theatre, audiences can dive deep into journalistic integrity. This Indiana premiere is a firecracker of a show. It clocks in at less than 90 minutes with no intermission and not a moment is wasted. Director Chris Saunders keeps the momentum going between each scene with tight dialogue or occasionally just a pointed look. The tension is taut and the minutes fly by. Despite the serious subject matter, the show is infused with humor. As a magazine staff works towards a tight deadline and a fact checker begins to see some cracks in a well-written article on suicide, the fuse is lit for a confrontation. Eva Patton is the authoritative, no-nonsense editor trying to wrangle a writer’s ego and an intern’s black-and-white worldview. Joe Wagner is all earnestness and naïveté as Jim the intern. ...