JANE AUSTEN IN 89 MINUTES - Theatre 40 at Greystone Mansion


Reviewed by Amanda Callas

Jane Austen in 89 Minutes is a delightful literary comedy with 10 special performances at the luxuriant Greystone Mansion in Beverly Hills through February 9th. Originally debuting at Theatre 40, this new screwball farce features lightning-fast reenactments of five classic Jane Austen novels.  At times a tongue-in-cheek send-up of Austen novels and their film and TV adaptations, Jane Austen in 89 Minutes is also a loving homage to the genius of the 19th century English writer whose perceptive wit and craveable romance remain widely treasured to this day.  Seeing Jane Austen in 89 Minutes at Greystone Mansion is a lavish treat.

Theatre 40's production of Jane Austen in 89 Minutes is the brainchild of playwright, director, and costumer Syrie James, a Jane Austen scholar, screenwriter, and author of USA Today bestsellers. Syrie James plays gleeful havoc with all kinds of conventions, including disgruntled characters confronting their creator Jane Austen with their complaints, breaking the fourth wall, and mixing present day with the wider Austenverse.  There is something delicious about the light-heartedness of this production, its whimsy and mischievous playfulness.  I particularly love the way characters ride in, dramatically and self-importantly, on stick horses.  

The fun-loving cast is game for all manner of light-hearted shenanigans, with many beautifully landed comedic moments from Todd Andrew Ball, Megan Deford and Michael Mullen.  Steven G. Frankenfield shines in his laugh-out-loud portrayal of the dashing young cad Mr. Wickham.  Later Frankenfield shows great range with his surprisingly tender, gorgeous delivery of the immortal Jane Austen line, "You pierce my soul."  Alison Blanchard digs into the holy terrors of Austen's repertoire, from gossipy relatives to terrifying dowagers, with enormous relish and dazzling comedic dexterity. 

Branda Lock is engaging and looks picture-perfect as narrator Jane Austen, though sometimes coming off as a bit too self-aware and gratingly self-satisfied.  Skits with present day Jane Austen fans arguing about their favorite Mr. Darcy on screen (Colin Firth, obviously, though I would vote for Lawrence Olivier) did not work well for me, and there are moments when the humor leans a bit much on the wink-wink side.  But with the roars of audience laughter coming non-stop, Jane Austen in 89 Minutes, produced by David Hunt Stafford, generally sparkles.

A certain kind of enchantment is added to Jane Austen in 89 Minutes by its current venue, Greystone Mansion. The 46,000 square foot Tudor Revival castle-like showplace was built in the 1920s by oil baron Edward L. Doheny as a gift to his son, who turned up dead in a guest bedroom within a few months of moving in. Now Greystone Mansion, often believed to be haunted, is a Beverly Hills public park and filming location, and its ridiculously sumptuous living room is the most picturesque milieu for this period comedy, shining with Syrie James' colorful Regency costuming.  

Theatre 40's Jane Austen in 89 Minutes runs January 29- February 9; Wednesday, January 29 at 7 pm, Thursday, January 30 at 7 pm, Friday, January 31 at 7 pm, Saturday, February 1 at 6 pm, Sunday, February 2 at 2 pm, Wednesday, February 5 at 7 pm, Thursday, February 6 at 7 pm, Friday, February 7 at 7 pm, Saturday, February 8 at 2 pm, and Sunday, February 9 at 1 pm.  Running time: 89 minutes with no intermission.  

Tickets: $65.  Tickets/info: (310) 364-3606 and http://theatre40.org.  Free parking on site.  Greystone Mansion, 905 Loma Vista Drive, Beverly Hills, 90210.




Posted By Amanda Callas on February 01, 2025 11:08 am | Permalink 

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