IMPROVISED THEATRE
By Impro Melbourne
Melbourne Fringe Festival 2025
At Impro Melbourne venue, 21-23 Stanley St West Melbourne until 19 Oct 2024
Reviewer: Kate Herbert
Stars: 3***
This review is published only on this blog. I’ll present a radio review on Arts Weekly on 3MBS on Sat 18 Oct 2025. KH
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| Brenna Dixon & Adam Hembree in Wooings & Misdoings |
Wooings and Misdoings might well be an unpublished novella by Jane Austen, but it is not. Rather, it is a fully improvised play in the style of Miss Austen, complete with shy ingenue, and her bolder, older sister, their mother ambitious for their them to make good marriages to wealthy and eligible suitors. Fortunately, said suitors are available in the environs of the coastal town of Bath, where the story takes place.
Although all the narrative and dialogue is completely improvised, and therefore unrehearsed, there is one scene that benefits from a little well-placed preparation prior to performance: a structured 19th century dance that allows couples to talk in snatches as the dance progresses.
The Misses Edwards, retiring and socially anxious Cassandra (Brenna Dixon) and her outgoing, supportive older sister, Abigail (Jess Lu), are the belles seeking partners.
Their ambitious mother (Jenny Lovell) smooths their path in society, while their gouty father secretes himself in his study until he is required for a merry carriage chase.
Captain Campbell (Adam MacKenzie), a sea-faring chap, loses out to the taciturn Mr Preston (played by the honey-tongued, Adam Hembree), who is erudite but unversed in the ways of love.
Wealthy Mr. Brunswick (Katherine Weaver) seems untouched by love or lust, until he meets feisty Abigail.
Yes, this entire narrative and all the characters and dialogue are totally improvised ,and this fine cast captures a style, period and wit of an Austen novel. Every show, every night has a different cast and a completely new narrative based on a a simple title, such as Wooings and Misdoings.
Cast
Brenna Dixon as Casandra Edwards
Jess Lu as Abigail Edwards
Jenny Lovell as Mrs Edwards & Marguerite Boulier
Adam Hembree as Mr Preston
Adam MacKenzie as Mr Edwards & Captain Campbell
Katherine Weaver as Mr. Brunswick
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