With the sun long gone and the campus lamps shining bright, City College is deserted most nights. West Campus was quiet and dark, but the Garvin Theatre was alive with excitement and nervousness. After months of rehearsals and training, the Theatre Group at City College welcomed family and friends to “Emma,” its newest masterpiece.
The play, directed by Katie Laris, opened at 7:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 11. “Emma” is an original novel by Jane Austen, an author whom I have deeply admired since I first fell in love with “Pride and Prejudice.” Both “Emma”and “Pride and Prejudice” have romance and comedy as well as memorable characters that appeal to their readers, including me.
Everything from the poster to the costume and set design were very impressive to see, especially after the performance started and all of these aspects came together. I was immediately captured by the ever-changing wardrobe of the main character, Emma Woodhouse, and the way she constantly broke the fourth wall, prompting laughter from the audience.
Emma, portrayed by student Lexie Brent, was brilliant onstage. She played a bright, witty and quite passionate young woman with no issue voicing her opinions and creating drama in the lives of her friends and family. During the show, when other actors would freeze on stage or a new scene was set, Brent would interact with the audience, walking back and forth asking questions and pointing out different people in the seats. These interactions with the audience were my favorite piece of the night. Emma was an extraordinary character, always spewing long monologues and speeches about her dilemmas. From recaps after intermission to bragging about her matchmaking skills, Emma is by far one of Austen’s most beloved characters, as well as one of the best to see on stage.
Despite that, Emma’s dear friend, Harrriet, stole the show with her hilarious, puppy-like personality. Played by second year student Grace Wilson, Harriet serves as a reminder of what women would have to deal with in that time period. Straight out of “school,” she is thrust into the social hunt for a husband. Harriet deserved all of the cheers that she received from the audience when she eventually got her happy ending after easily making everyone laugh and fall in love with her.
Romantic tension played a huge part in keeping the audience entertained. The misunderstandings and shenanigans that the characters constantly found themselves in made it very easy to stay focused on the plot, even as the crowd silently rooted for their favorite couple.
By the end of the drama, I walked to my car with the same fluttery feeling I had after watching “Pride and Prejudice” on screen for the first time. The City College students have done it yet again, creating a beautiful production, and I am very excited to see how well it does in the campus community.
Showings for “Emma” will continue Thursdays through Saturdays at 7:30 p.m. and on Sundays at 2 p.m. until Oct. 28. In addition, the performance for Oct. 15 will be live-captioned for the hearing impaired. Tickets are available through the Theatre Group at SBCC’s website, with prices ranging from $10 to $18.
