Summary
Austentatious: An Improvised Jane Austen Novel has taken centre stage at the Edinburgh Fringe once more in an hour long whirlwind of laughs, quick-wittedness, and near character breaks - and it is one hundred per cent worth your time.
Austentatious: An Improvised Jane Austen Novel has taken centre stage at the Edinburgh Fringe once more in an hour long whirlwind of laughs, quick-wittedness, and near character breaks – and it is one hundred per cent worth your time.
Any fan of Jane Austen, super or casual, can appreciate the silliness of six actors thinking on their feet and telling the most baffling jokes in a haughty regency-era English accent. Even non-Austen fans would surely let out a small chuckle.
Having first dazzled crowds at the Edinburgh Fringe in 2012, Austentatious has once more returned back to the cobbly streets to bring the audiences’ imaginations to life. The show starts with a few cracks about the many (six) novels Jane Austen publishes, and highlights how many more (over six hundred) that never saw the light of day. Members of that audience are called on to name a few – Terminated with Extreme Prejudice stands out – and the show starts then and there, no prior rehearsals to be seen.
Cast member Rachel Parris decides that Finally Facing My Waterloo is the book of choice, and an hour of ABBA references, riffing, and drama unfolds. With four chairs, one table, and one piano, they make a captivating show out of very little material.
Lauren Shearing failed to land a few jokes – relying on breaking the immersion of the show and acknowledging the audience to carry them, and it didn’t always work. Her ability to recover and settle back into the flow of improv is admirable.
Parris is exceptional, the BAFTA nominated comedian so quick on her feet that there was never once a lull in the show. A real stand out whose ability to carry a bit and break the fourth wall in an ironic way kept the crowd shriek-laughing. Yet Parris’ ability to hold onto the emotional scenes is just as note-worthy as her comedic timing – you can sympathise with her character and then snort the very next second.
Amy Cooke-Hodgson and Graham Dickson were equally as exceptional in their performance.The cast worked like a well-oiled machine and the talent each of them have only elevated every one else – not once were there any interruptions or hesitate to find the right joke or movement.
Austentatious is a must see show for all Austen and improv lovers – it will be the quickest hour of your life.
Featured Image Credit: https://www.austentatiousimpro.com/tour