Sense and Sensibility
at PA Leadership Charter School: Center for Performing and Fine Arts

Reviewed on April 27, 2020

Oakley Blinman
Harriton High School
Submitted for publication to Philadephia Inquirer Website 1

Love is a topic long explored by humanity. It is often felt, but seldom understood -- yet, the audience of Pennsylvania Leadership Charter School's (PALCS) performance of Sense and Sensibility certainly grasped the meaning of love as they fell head-over-heels for the beautiful performance.

Sense and Sensibility is based on the classic Jane Austen novel. It tells the tale of the Dashwood sisters, Elinor, Margaret, and Marianne, as they come of age in the wake of their late father's death. With the help of Colonel Brandon, John Willoughby, and Edward Ferrars, the girls discover love, joy, and heartbreak in this charming piece about the beauty of relationships.

PALCS put on a hilarious, heartwarming, and classic show. Featuring many strong actors and a formidable technical team, the cozy English countryside was brought to life on stage. The language of Jane Austen is challenging, but the cast tackled it head-on and made it easy for the audience to understand. No one left the theatre scratching their head -- in fact, it's safe to say everyone left much wiser than before.

This show was led by the dynamic duo of Marianne and Elinor Dashwood, played by Roni Endres and Lauryn Swavely, respectively. The two played off each other brilliantly, Swavely as the more sensible Elinor and Endres as the fiery and passionate Marianne. Swavely's air of wisdom was incredibly powerful, and it swept the stage the moment she stepped into the spotlight. Endres' bold comedy and vulnerable character were the perfect intersection in the creation of a very memorable performance.

Talent is evidently ubiquitous at PALCS, as the show also featured an impressive supporting cast. Xander Dake played the charming Colonel Brandon with elegance and esteem. Mrs. Dashwood, the girls' mother, was played by Rebecca Stehle, who portrayed her with grace and charming reliability. Caitlin Boone had the audience rolling with laughter as the memorable Mrs. Jennings. A dynamic ensemble, the Gossips, tied it all together, bringing life to transitions and immersing the audience in the world of the play.

The small space in which the performance took place presented a unique challenge for the technical teams, which they took in stride. The props team, lead by Sophie Wickes, provided a litany of enhancing and period-appropriate props. Angelina Capp, the student choreographer, did an incredible job with the classical dances. The lighting team, lead by Felicia Berrier, and the sound team, lead by Kennedy Gab and Brianna Mullin, worked harmoniously to make sure the actors were consistently seen and heard.

Lulu Pettit
Jenkintown High School
Submitted for publication to Philadelphia Inquirer Website 2

A scandal. A secret engagement. A deadly illness. Welcome to the world of Sense and Sensibility, brought to life by the students of Pennsylvania Leadership Charter School Center for Performing and Fine Arts in fall 2019.

This drama was originally written for the stage by Kate Hamill in 2014, based on the 1811 Jane Austin novel of the same name. The classic story follows two sisters, Elinor and Marianne Dashwood, as they struggle to find love and happiness in early-nineteenth-century high society. As they go, they learn a lesson that still rings true today: we must find a balance between letting our emotions dictate and living entirely sensibly.

This production was outstanding, keeping the audience hooked through the lively acting of not only the main cast but also the supporting and featured characters. Throughout the show, the minimalist props approach was both interesting and well-covered by the consistent reinforcement from the talented actors that the carriage or table was there, making for funny or creative scenes.

The main cast was excellent, always staying entirely in character and moving past any small misspeaks easily and naturally. Lauren Swavely as Elinor Dashwood and Roni Endres as Marianne Dashwood were both exceptional. They remained in character even while the lights were down or lowered where they were on stage, always playing off of each other's lines and actions comfortably.

Other notably strong performers include Xander Dake as Colonel Brandon, Rebecca Stehle as Mrs. Dashwood, and Gabriel Rottman as John Willoughby. All three had clear, understandable portrayals of their characters, roping in the viewer with their skillful acting. Caitlin Boone as Mrs. Jennings and Joey Colasante as Sir John Middleton were both a delight to see on stage, especially shining in their scenes together, when they built on each other's jokes as if second nature, bringing laughter into all the scenes. The Gossips were always charming to watch, lightening up even the most serious scenes. They laughed openly and easily while talking, always making the audience feel comfortable.

Stage manager Kari Ramoth and the PALCS Stage Crew moved quickly when moving props between scenes, never drawing the audience's attention away from the scene at hand. Sophie Wickes's prop choices were smart and interesting, taking an original minimalist approach while always getting across where the characters are or what they're doing. Felicia Berrier's sound was consistently through the entire show, keeping the actors loud enough to hear comfortably with the music and effects as secondary sounds.

Overall, Pennsylvania Leadership Charter School Center for Performing and Fine Arts gave an exceptional show with an outstanding cast and crew, keeping the audience hooked, laughing, and comfortable through their entire performance of Sense and Sensibility.

Kayla Downing
Bordentown Regional School District
Submitted for publication to Greater Philly Cappies 3

Witty, romantic, and charming, PA Leadership Charter School's production of "Sense and Sensibility" encapsulated the goals and visions of Jane Austen's most iconic work.

Jane Austen's infamous tale was transformed into a stage play by Kate Hamill. The story, similar to the 1811 novel [originally published "By A Lady" versus "By Jane Austen"] centers around two sisters, Elinor and Marianne, whose juxtaposing personalities are brought together by their mirroring love lives. Following the death of their father, their lives are turned upside down, and the two are forced to leave their home. Many mishaps and run-ins with handsome and charming men and the relationship between these two sisters is what really pushes this heartfelt story off of the pages and onstage.

PALCS production of Sense and Sensibility held true to the charm in Austen's original text. Witty, hilarious, and ever so tender, this tale of two sisters came to life in this high school production. A complicated text to tackle, it was a powerful feat to watch a cast so young perform something so complicated.

Fearlessly leading the production were Lauryn Swavely as Elinor Dashwood and Roni Endres as Marianne Dashwood. Swavely's performance of Elinor perfectly captured the sense and practicality of the iconic character. Her performance flexed the character's most thoughtful and reserved view of the world. In contrast, Endres' performance as Marianne captured the flightier sister. Endres' spontaneity served as a beautiful contrast to Swavely's stern interpretation of Elinor. Both girls not only understood their individual characters but the relationship that these two sisters needed to have with one another.

The matriarch of the household, Mrs. Dashwood, played by Rebecca Stehle, found the balance between the contrasting sisters. Her calm, motherly performance was not only a nice contrast from the two radically different sisters but offered some much-needed peace in times of drama. The multitude of lovers the sisters engage with are not to be forgotten. Colonel Brandon, portrayed by Xander Duke, excellently portrayed the humble, reserved man who grows fond of Marianne Dashwood.

At the forefront of any play are it's technical elements. The show was lit by Kennedy Gabb and Brianna Mullin in cool tones, a simple contrast to the sometimes complicated plot of the play. There were few technical errors in the production, and all were overcome by the stellar cast and crew.

PA Leadership Charter School's production of "Sense and Sensibility" thoroughly understood the source material at hand. Able to tackle such a daunting show is no small feat, and the cast and crew did a magnificent job.

Phoebe Smith
Agnes Irwin School
Submitted for publication to Greater Philly Cappies 4

To represent the difference between the titular terms "sense" and "sensibility," often confused due to their common root word, is not an easy task. Jane Austen was able to do it with remarkable literary flourish, however, and students at Pennsylvania Leadership Charter School masterfully brought Austen's timeless tale to life in their production of Sense and Sensibility.

Sense and Sensibility, adapted from Jane Austen's 1811 novel, follows Elinor and Marianne Dashwood, two exceedingly charming sisters in nineteenth-century England who actively pursue love and happiness, but through very different means. Elinor prefers to show sense, or practicality, in her interactions with potential suitors, while Marianne embodies sensibility, or a tendency to succumb to her feelings and go after what she wants. Throughout the play, the sisters experience overwhelming passion, disappointment, joy, heartbreak, and all other emotions that come with being in love; it's a wild ride for both the performers and audience members, and PALCS enhances the classic story with enthusiasm and heart.

The cast of Sense and Sensibility achieved an especially powerful dynamic in their group performances. The Gossips, ten lively performers who appeared frequently to offer humorous commentary on the Dashwood sisters' love lives, made even the most serious of scenes entertaining; it was clear that all members of the cast had a strong bond, and it was moving to observe the unwavering connection between Elinor, Marianne, and their mother despite the personal growth they each undergo.

Lead actresses Lauryn Swavely and Roni Endres demonstrated a strong sense of their characters' inner emotions, as evidenced by their deeply affecting portrayals of Elinor and Marianne's ultimate highs and lows. Lauryn Swavely, who played Elinor, stirred audience members with her impassioned delivery of each line, and her heartbreaking confession of her character's secret sorrows was particularly poignant. Likewise, Roni Endres flawlessly conveyed both the overflowing excitement and extreme melancholia that Elinor's ever-mercurial younger sister, Marianne, experiences in her quest to find love.

Supporting actors Joey Colasante and Caitlin Boone also turned in incredible performances as the neighborhood matchmakers and gossipmongers Sir John Middleton and Mrs. Jennings. Boone brought so much spirit into every one of her increasingly absurd speeches, and she and her onstage husband played off one another's energy in shared scenes to produce an utterly enjoyable comic effect.

The show ran very smoothly due to thorough planning on the part of the stage managers and crew. As many actors were on stage at once, lighting effectively shifted the audience's focus from one performer or group of performers to the next, and frequent musical interludes served to emphasize the mood of each scene.

Pennsylvania Leadership Charter School's production of Sense and Sensibility was admirably executed, and its cast created an emotional, exciting, and all-together f-f-f-fun experience for entranced audience members.