Tonight we went out to Seattle to see Austenland. Based on the book by Shannon Hale, directed by Jerusha Hess. I went with a couple of friends, my sister, and two of us had our husbands along. After all the lukewarm reviews I wasn’t sure what to expect.
I will start by saying my husband just sighed and said “Oh, man. I wish we could see that show again.”
Rave reviews from the husband of a Janeite.
I am sure the theater was filled with hardcore Jane Austen fans, and a few husbands sprinkled in, but everyone loved the show. I expected some quirky Jerusha Hess humor but didn’t know quite how it would play out in a show like this. We had so much fun at this show from beginning to end. It was silly and delightful, and better than I thought it would be. The cast really made the show with great comic timing. J J Field was so cute as Mr. Nobley. Keri Russell was very sweet.
And boy were there some funny moments. There were many times we missed a funny line because we were still laughing from a previous line. By twenty minutes into the show I had tears in my eyes from laughing so much. I don’t want to give anything away for my Austenesque friends, but just go see it.
I have loved many Austen adaptations striving for accuracy and period authenticity, but this one was definitely one for the Janeites. And yet something tells me that anyone who has dragged their significant other to a chick flick, or anyone who’s ever been dragged to a chick flick would love this show.
-Lynnae
P.S. We loved the musical number at the end credits!
