{"id":360047,"date":"2024-10-07T07:45:24","date_gmt":"2024-10-07T11:45:24","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/dctheaterarts.org\/?p=360047"},"modified":"2024-10-07T07:45:24","modified_gmt":"2024-10-07T11:45:24","slug":"emma-at-umd-is-a-heartwarming-romp","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/dctheaterarts.org\/2024\/10\/07\/emma-at-umd-is-a-heartwarming-romp\/","title":{"rendered":"‘Emma’ at UMD is a heartwarming romp"},"content":{"rendered":"

Dearest reader,<\/p>\n

If you, like myself, enjoy a heartwarming romp filled with charm, delightfully anarchronistic flair, and a touch of fourth-wall-breaking snark, I highly encourage you to take a turn by University of Maryland\u2019s Clarice Smith Performing Arts Center to spend a diverting two hours with the cast and crew of Emma<\/em>.<\/p>\n

Fitting any of Jane Austen\u2019s expansive, twisting, Regency-era plots into a two-hour play is an undoubtedly difficult task, but this adaptation by Michael Bloom under the direction of Lisa Murphy-Nathans does so beautifully. For those unfamiliar with the original story (or its modern adaptation, the Alicia Silverstone and Paul Rudd classic Clueless<\/em>), Emma<\/em> revolves around the titular character and her desire to matchmake for the people in her social circle. Determined never to marry herself, she focuses her energy on finding a connection for her friend, the young and untitled Harriet Smith. Through her romantic meddling and scheming, she soon finds herself caught within multiple love triangles, eventually coming to the surprising realization that her childhood confidante, the snarky but kind-hearted Mr. Knightley, is the only person Emma truly wants to impress.<\/p>\n

\"\"
Mr. Knightley (Terrence Bartlebaugh) and Emma (Drew Okoye) in the UMD School of Theatre, Dance, and Performance Studies\u2019 production of \u2018Emma.\u2019 Photo by Taneen Momeni.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The young cast of the production does an admirable job with Austen\u2019s heightened text, handling snappy t\u00eate-\u00e0-t\u00eates deftly and comedic timing with confidence. I must admit, I was surprised at first by the visual dissonance of Drew Okoye\u2019s Emma and Terrence Bartlebaugh\u2019s Mr. Knightley \u2014 but as soon as they began to perform off one another, I couldn\u2019t have imagined a more perfect pairing. Okoye\u2019s Emma is strong, self-assured, and immediately endearing in her youthful self-dependence; Bartlebaugh\u2019s Knightley served as a worthy foil with pointed sarcasm, snappy intelligence, and gentle humility. Watching these two young actors work together made my pedagogical heart sing. Ilana Mongilio\u2019s portrayal of the insecure but large-hearted Harriet is also to be commended, balancing melodramatic outbursts with moments of quiet sincerity with ease. Katie Quinn\u2019s Mrs. Taylor-Weston was also a standout, bringing light-hearted and sisterly camaraderie to her scenes with Okoye and eliciting some of the biggest laughs from the crowd during her dancing scenes. The rest of the ensemble was equally amusing \u2014 Bayron Celis\u2019 somewhat narcoleptic Mr. Woodhouse and J. Royal Miller\u2019s Tartuffe-esque portrayal of Mr. Elton seemed to be particular favorites with the audience. A\u00efda Nyabingi\u2019s reserved Jane Fairfax also has quite the wonderful moment channeling early Gwen Stefani on the pianoforte, much to the enjoyment of my fellow millennials in the audience.<\/p>\n

As per usual, the UMD Theatre and Design graduate students have built another enchanting world with this production. Margarita Syrocheva\u2019s scenic design holds us securely in the Regency period, with marbled expanses and arches framing romantic portraits and pastorals dangling from the ceiling. Doni Rotunno\u2019s costumes and Priscilla Bruce\u2019s wigs are a welcome combination of Regency silhouettes with vibrant, contemporary colors that balance the push and pull of the performers in their more anachronistic moments. Lighting design by Mike Riggs and Luis Garcia aids nicely in accentuating Emma\u2019s moments of self-reflection and conversation with the audience.<\/p>\n

\"\"
Emma (Drew Okoye) and Miss Harriet Smith (Ilana Mongilio) in the UMD School of Theatre, Dance, and Performance Studies\u2019 production of \u2018Emma.\u2019 Photo by Taneen Momeni.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The element that truly brought this production together was the collaboration between Murphy-Nathans and Choreographer Adriane Fang. With anachronistic music \u00e0 la Bridgerton<\/em>, Fang\u2019s choreography is a brilliant mash-up of period movement with contemporary flair Often, ball scenes can become a bit monotonous and difficult to follow, but the combination of dance styles, brilliantly executed by the cast, and the choice to limit the number of couples dancing at any single moment made these important moments so much more enjoyable than I expected. Not to mention, the sweeping pre-intermission dance between Okoye\u2019s Emma and Hudson White\u2019s Frank Churchill to Taylor Swift\u2019s \u201cWildest Dreams\u201d was just about as romantic as it gets.<\/p>\n

In our current climate, sometimes we really just need a light, heart-filled evening at the theater to remember the things that bring us together as humans: loving family (found and biological), strong friendships, and the joy of experiencing art and laughter with a community. This production of Austen\u2019s Emma<\/em> is a balm for the world-weary heart.<\/p>\n

Running Time: Two hours including a 15-minute intermission.<\/p>\n

Emma<\/strong><\/em><\/a> plays through October 10, 2024, presented by the University of Maryland School of Theatre, Dance, and Performance Studies performing at the Kay Theatre at the Clarice Smith Performing Arts Center, 8270 Alumni Dr., College Park, MD. Purchase tickets ($25, general public; $10, students and youth) online.<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/strong>The program for Emma<\/em>\u00a0is online here.<\/a><\/p>\n

COVID Safety: <\/strong>While strongly encouraged, masks are no longer required. See the Clarice Smith Performing Arts Center Health & Safety policy here.<\/a><\/p>\n

Emma<\/strong><\/em>
\nWritten by Jane Austen
\nAdapted by Michael Bloom
\nDirected by Lisa Murphy-Nathans<\/p>\n

CAST
\nEmma Woodhouse: Drew Okoye
\nGeorge Knightley: Terrence Bartlebaugh
\nHarriet Smith: Ilana Mongilio
\nMr. Woodhouse: Bayron Celis
\nMr. Weston: Matthew Cruser
\nMiss Bates:.Sabrina Lenett
\nRobert Martin: Tito Silva
\nFrank Churchill: Hudson White
\nMrs. Augusta Hawkins-Elton: Nani Gildersleeve
\nJane Fairfax: A\u00efda Nyabingi
\nMrs. Taylor-Weston: Katie Quinn
\nMr. Elton: J Royal Miller<\/p>\n

UNDERSTUDIES
\nEmma Woodhouse: Bridget Knott
\nGeorge Knightley: Raymond Zajic
\nHarriet Smith: Wendy Saltsberg
\nMr. Woodhouse: Emily Davis
\nMr. Weston: Alex Reyes
\nMiss Bates: Gabriella Loshin
\nRobert Martin: Eitan Amster
\nFrank Churchill: Kevin Volland
\nMrs. Augusta Hawkins-Elton: Medhanit Desta
\nJane Fairfax: Julia Smith
\nMrs. Taylor-Weston: Miele Murray
\nMr. Elton: Matthew Dietrich<\/p>\n

PRODUCTION TEAM
\nDirector: Lisa Murphy-Nathans
\nDramaturg: Marissa Kennedy
\nChoreographer: Adriane Fang
\nIntimacy & Fight Director: Sierra Young
\nDialect Coach: Yetunde Felix-Ukwu
\nStage Manager: Alana Isaac
\nScenic Designer: Margarita Syrocheva
\nCostume Designer: Doni Rotunno
\nCo-Lighting Designers: Mike Riggs, Luis Garcia
\nWig Designer: Priscilla Bruce
\nSound Designer: Justin Schmitz
\nAssistant Director: Amberley Kuo
\nAssistant Choreographer: Kayley Childs
\nAssistant Stage Manager: Jaylyn Manu
\nAssistant Scenic Designer: Adam Hawley
\nAssistant Lighting Designer: Hannah Kelly
\nAssistant Costume Designer: Johnna Presby
\nAssociate Sound Designer: Kiefer Cure<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The Univerity of Maryland’s charming production of Jane Austen\u2019s classic is a balm for the world-weary. By BRITTANY PROUDFOOT GINDER<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":68,"featured_media":373555,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"apple_news_api_created_at":"","apple_news_api_id":"","apple_news_api_modified_at":"","apple_news_api_revision":"","apple_news_api_share_url":"","apple_news_cover_media_provider":"image","apple_news_coverimage":0,"apple_news_coverimage_caption":"","apple_news_cover_video_id":0,"apple_news_cover_video_url":"","apple_news_cover_embedwebvideo_url":"","apple_news_is_hidden":"","apple_news_is_paid":"","apple_news_is_preview":"","apple_news_is_sponsored":"","apple_news_maturity_rating":"","apple_news_metadata":"\"\"","apple_news_pullquote":"","apple_news_pullquote_position":"","apple_news_slug":"","apple_news_sections":[],"apple_news_suppress_video_url":false,"apple_news_use_image_component":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[18,63],"tags":[1562],"class_list":{"0":"post-360047","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-reviews","8":"category-university-shows","9":"tag-lisa-murphy-nathans"},"acf":[],"apple_news_notices":[],"yoast_head":"\n'Emma' at UMD is a heartwarming romp - 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