Nathan Butler plays Jane Austen
Jane Austen’s Guide to Pornography written and directed by Steven Dawson by Melbourne based Out Cast Theatre is a fun, clever and playful production that has been playing to full houses in Edinburgh.
With themes of love versus lust and romance versus raunche, Dawson weaves us between two times, sexualities and societies- being Jane Austen’s world of senses and sensibilities and Melbourne playwright’s toey, impatient sexuality.
Staging is well and simply designed and the action swirled between Jane Austin’s writing desk and writer Brett’s chair and lap top.
Nathan Butler as Jane is crisp, funny and touching; Adam Ford and Matt Moran play roles from both eras strongly- the pair have nice comic timing and are eminently watch-able.
Alistair Frearson warms up later in the piece and has potential but the earlier scenes would involve us more with extra work on texture, varied emotion and rhythm. With this reworked and the ending sharpened or slightly edited, there is a fun, bold piece that impressively manages to be both daring and digestible.
Jane Austen’s Guide to Pornography plays as part of the Edinburgh Fringe at the Zoo Southside until August 31.
