There is an air of excitement about the Concord Academy campus: the sound of students practicing their lines, trying to get their British accents just right; the hustle and bustle of the tech crew; the quietness of the crowd when the lights dim just before the show begins. Students stop outside the P.A.C. just to get a glimpse of the magic unfolding inside. Where is all this excitement coming from?
The Fall Mainstage Production of Sense and Sensibility, of course!
In the coming weeks, CA students will put on a production of Sense and Sensibility, an adaptation of Jane Austen’s novel. Set in 18th-century England, this production follows the trials and tribulations of two sisters, Elinor and Marianne, while they navigate their new social and financial situations after the death of their father. This play discusses ideas surrounding romance, gender roles, and expectations about women and how they “should” behave in the world. Sense and Sensibility also examines the long-standing tension between following one’s head or one’s heart. “Sense” refers to logical reasoning, while “sensibility” refers to one’s ability to feel emotions (the word’s definition in the 1700s when Austen’s book was first published).
CA students, with the support of faculty and staff, will perform Sense and Sensibility on November 10 and 11 from 7:30-10:00 p.m. The cast and crew have been working hard to ensure a breathtaking performance for all viewers, and they have been creating costumes, constructing stage props, and passionately rehearsing their lines. “It has been so great to work with my friends on this show, theater is ultimately about having fun, and we definitely do!” said Lira Schwab ’26, who plays Elinor in the show.
One might wonder how a play based on a book written in 1795 relates to students and adults in the CA community. However, Lira emphasizes, “Underneath Austen’s unfamiliar social structure, empire waistlines, and Old English is a story about love and the moral compass. I [would] argue that these themes are just as imperative today as they were when she wrote them in 1795.” Sense and Sensibility is a timeless story, jam-packed with ideas and questions we still grapple with today. Not only are Austen’s ideas about love relevant in today's contemporary society, but her writing also challenges viewers to reflect on their own reactions to societal pressures, something which many high schoolers are prone to on a day-to-day basis.
Overall, the CA community is eager to see the performances of Sense and Sensibility and celebrate all the hard work of the cast and crew!