The true spirit of Jane Austen transforms the small studio theatre at Tallaght into an arena in which vanity and greed are at cold war with unselfishness. This adaptation by Myles Dungan of Mansfield Park catches the true flavour of the author's dissection of the rural society of her day. He acknowledges the liberties he has taken, but they are justified by his fidelity to the main characters and their relationships. This play is the real thing.
So Fanny Price, with minimal exposition, is whisked from her impoverished family into the house of her aunt, Lady Bertram, where she is patronised by cousins Julia and Maria and befriended by cousin Edmund, whom she comes to love. When two sophisticated London siblings, Henry and Mary Crawford, arrive to stay nearby, they bring complications, neither being over-scrupulous in morality.
Through all of this only Fanny is steadfast and true to her principles, enduring the condescension of her nasty aunt Mrs Norris and being the only one to see through Henry's duplicitous nature. She is indeed something of a goody-goody, destined for a happy ending and towing others behind her on the path of righteousness. Jane Austen's penetrating eye lights on her as on her less admirable peers, and sees her truly.
The adaptor's script shapes the characters, allows for some effective doubling of roles, and generates a mannered dialogue that beguiles the ear. Sonia Haccius's minimal set design - a raked platform over the acting area and a back-screen - serves a variety of scenes well, and her costumes have the required sense of period.
Seven actors, directed with considerable style by Joe Devlin, develop the action with total conviction. Sean Duggan, Regan O'Brien and Aoife Molony, playing multiple roles, are most effective; and Catherine Farrell (Fanny), Damien Devaney, John Lovett and Niamh O'Shaughnessy create their single characters in depth. Together they offer a worthy homage to Jane Austen by way of a delightful entertainment.
Runs until November 24th; bookings at 01-4627477