Afternoon Tea With Jane Austen: Cups And Chronicles (2012 FRIGID NEW YORK FESTIVAL)

The Happiest Medium — Sun, 26 Feb 2012 04:27:41 +0000

The Happiest Medium Review by Guest Contributor Linnea Covington

Afternoon Tea With Jane Austen (Photographer credit: Chris J. Hing)

Most little girls grow up reading the works of Jane Austen, be it Emma, Sense and Sensibility, or Pride and Prejudice. Some boys also read her stories, but usually that’s a school assignment. But, no matter how you digest this early 19th Century author, one thing remains consistent – you never learn much about her actual life. In Tali Brady’s one-woman play Afternoon Tea With Jane Austen, the Montreal-based actress and playwright attempts to share this history with you.

It’s an excellent way to become acquainted with Austen, and while Brady wrote a wonderfully fluid play chock full of personal details, fetching narratives, and historical information about the author, she doesn’t always execute her role as Austen well. The show started out slow as she bumbled around the who’s-who in Austen’s family, and even though she said herself that it was boring, it still shouldn’t have been. This isn’t because of the subject matter but more of Brady reciting her lines like she’s dictating instead of storytelling.

Luckily, this vibe doesn’t maintain through the entire play. When Brady talks about Austen’s love life and the process she went through to write and publish her books, pure excitement shone through and Brady’s acting became convincing. The same thing happened when she spoke multiple characters’ parts and when she accompanied her tale with the few and far between sound effects—a tool I think would help calm her obvious nervousness.

Despite the energy fluxes in the show, Brady earned kudos for tackling an hour-long play and taking the stage alone. She managed to perk up near the end and demonstrate the intriguing character that is Jane Austen without completely dulling the audience. For example, did you know Austen had been in love only once and later in life turned down a chance at a compatible marriage preferring to remain a spinster rather than marry without feeling? No? Neither did I. Bits of information like that tickled me.

Ultimately though, next time, given it’s about having tea with an author, I would like to see Brady actually drink tea out of the cup and do it like a lady instead of like someone doing shots. I mean, what would Mr. Darcy say?

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Afternoon Tea with Jane Austen

Company: Orange Wine Productions

Directed by: Bruce Lambie

Feb 27, 9:30PM

Feb 29, 6:30PM

Mar 02, 9:30PM

Mar 04, 3:30PM

$16.00

The Red Room

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The 2012 FRIGID NEW YORK FESTIVAL will run February 22-March 4 at The Kraine Theater & The Red Room (85 East 4th Street between 2nd Ave and Bowery) and UNDER St. Marks (94 St. Marks Place between 1st Ave and Ave A). Tickets to all shows may be purchased online at www.FRIGIDnewyork.info or by calling Smarttix at 212-868-4444.

Afternoon Tea With Jane Austen: 5 Things To Know About The Show Before You Go (2012 FRIGID NEW YORK FESTIVAL)

The Happiest Medium — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 19:05:04 +0000

Five Questions. Five Answers. And One Big Decision: Rock, Paper, Or Scissors?

Tali Brady, Afternoon Tea With Jane Austen (Photo by Karin Benedict)

Afternoon Tea With Jane Austen

Orange Wine Productions

Meet English novelist Jane Austen (the woman behind such beloved books as Sense and Sensibility and Pride and Prejudice) in this solo show about the creator of some of the most popular stories and characters in the English language.

Show Times:

Fri 2/24 @ 6:30 pm
Sat 2/25 @ 3:30 pm
Mon 2/27 @ 9:30 pm
Wed 2/29 @ 6:30 pm
Fri 3/2 @ 9:30 pm
Sun 3/4 @ 3:30 pm

Answers by Tali Brady

(Playwright / Performer)

Karen Tortora-Lee’s Question
That’s some title. How did you come up with it – and what does it mean?
Tali: I first came up with the title “Tea With Jane Austen” because I was creating an intimate show about a woman telling us about her life and I loved the mental image of telling one’s story over a cup of tea. (On the more mercenary side, I put in “Afternoon” at the beginning of the title to make sure it shows up higher in alphabetical listings!)

Diánna Martin’s Question
If you were going to invite five people, anyone from past and present, to see your FRIGID show – who would you invite and why?
Tali:
1 – Jane Austen, of course – I’d love to get her feedback!
2 – Cassandra Austen, Jane’s sister – She was a major influence on Jane and I would love to know more about her as well. (Then after the show, I’d invite them both out for a cup of tea – or maybe a few glasses of wine – and have a nice long chat.)
3 – Douglas Adams – Like Austen, Adams’ novels (Particularly the Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy series) are filled with a lovely sense of the absurd and delightful sarcasm.
4 – Alan Rickman – Because he is a performer who is simply delicious to watch! (I shuddered in delight at his delivery of the line “The air is full of spices” from the Emma Thompson-Ang Lee version of Sense & Sensibility.) Plus, he’s in town performing in Seminar - I think that’ll help my chances! (So, Mr. Rickman, if you’re reading this, you are most cordially invited to the show!)
5 – Claudia Shear – I saw her autobiographical solo show Blown Sideways Through Life on PBS way back when, that vivid, visceral (and sometimes hilarious) show made an impact on my young, impressionable mind.

Antonio Minino’s Question
What is the biggest sacrifice you’ve ever made for your Art and was it worth it?
Tali: Sure, I’ve made a few sacrifices: I never seem to have enough money or free time in between writing, performing, school and working. Also, the only travel I’ve done in the past few years seems to be for an out-of-town performance or audition. However, I went through a period where I stopped writing or performing and, frankly, that was a much bigger sacrifice to me.

Geoffrey Paddy Johnson’s Question
Was there any unexpected discovery made during the development of this production and, if so, can you share it?
Tali: When I did a run in Toronto a couple of years back, my show was very popular with senior citizens – It was a joy performing for them, they were very supportive and attentive. I remember one dear lady who waited outside after the show asked to take a picture with me and my director (the lovely and talented Bruce Lambie) and even requested autographs!

Michelle Augello-Page’s Question
What do you hope the audience receives from the experience of seeing this show?
Tali: I hope they enjoy learning more about Jane Austen and gain an appreciation for the sassy, vivacious and clever person she was!

Rock, Paper, Scissors Tournament of DEAAAAATH

THM Bonus Question – We’re serious this year!
In the THM virtual Rock, Paper, Scissors Tournament of DEAAAAATH which FRIGID Show do you take on? And what do you throw?

Tali: I challenge Little Lady – I met her the other day and I like her spirit! – And I choose rock!

Well, Tali, that’s a great reason to challenge someone in the Rock, Paper, Scissors Tournament of Deaaaaath! Little Lady threw SCISSORS … so that’s a WIN for you!

Also – you’ve been challenged by Love in the Time of Chlamydia who threw ROCK (at everyone) … so that’s a tie. Ya done good, Jane Austen. Not bad for an Englishwoman sipping tea!

Thanks Afternoon Tea With Jane Austen for participating in The Happiest Medium’s FRIGID New York Festival 2012 Q&A. And for playing our game! You’re officially ROCK in any and all challenges. You may win again, you may not – who knows! This is how it works in the crazy world of the Rock, Paper, Scissors Tournament of DEAAAAATH!

For the rest of you don’t forget to check out Afternoon Tea With Jane Austen!

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