Wannanup resident Matthew Lister is keeping a stiff upper lip, ready for his performance in a playful-but-faithful adaptation of Jane Austen's Sense and Sensibility.
Directed by Vanessa Jensen at Melville Theatre, the Austen classic tells the story of the Dashwood sisters and the path their life takes after the sudden death of their father.
Evicted from their family home by uncaring relations, and left both financially and socially vulnerable, the three sisters and their mother move to a simpler life in Devonshire.
Like all Austen stories, Sense and Sensibility is set in England in the early 19th century and is concerned with inheritance, real estate, income, reputation, love and the possibility - and necessity - of making a suitable match.
Renowned for his roles in Austen productions, Lister plays Colonel Brandon - a reserved but attentive person.
"In his 35 years, he has learnt that patience is a virtuous quality," Lister said.
"The colonel's heart was broken as a young man and he has almost given up hope of ever loving again.
"Unlike my previous roles in Austen plays, he barely speaks directly to the lady he desires, resorting to conversing with her elder sister instead.
"The challenge is showing Brandon's infatuation with the younger sister and establishing a connection without words.
"A further challenge is not alienating the modern audience with Brandon's apparent lack of appeal - hopefully his virtuousness and selflessness make him worthy of a fairytale ending in the audience's eyes."
Read more:
With more than two decades of theatre experience behind him, Lister has performed at the Mandurah Performing Arts Centre and Mandurah Little Theatre before he went on to take the stage at Melville, Roleystone, Playlovers, Garrick and Phoenix Theatres.
Lister said he was keen to join to be a part of the show for a number of reasons.
"Director Vanessa Jensen is the main reason I wanted to be in Sense and Sensibility," he said.
"Re-uniting with cast members from Vanessa's earlier productions of Pride and Prejudice and Emma is a very close second.
"The chance to complete the trilogy of leading men from Darcy to Knightley and now Brandon was the icing on the cake."
Jensen said that while she had previously directed traditional versions of Emma and Pride and Prejudice, this adaptation of Sense and Sensibility had a more modern feel.
"It's still set in the early 1800s and the language is still faithful to the time and Austen's writing but the style and structure of the play itself has an energy and humour that is noticeably different," she said.
"Hamill has created a chorus of high-society creatures, the Gossips, and this adds a wickedly funny dimension to the story."
Sense and Sensibility will play at the Melville Theatre at 8pm on May 3, 4, 9, 10, 11, 16, 17 and 18 with a 2pm matinee on May 12.
For more information, or to purchase tickets, visit the Melville Theatre Company website.
