Nonsense & Sensibility
20 May 2026
Etcetera Theatre
4.0 out of 5.0 stars
Nonsense & Sensibility, by Ashen Pine Productions, is currently running at the Etcetera Theatre in Camden until the 22nd May.
Actors Samantha and Bartholomew are fighting bitterly, to the point the entire rest of the cast quits the show just before curtains, leaving the duo, originally only prepared to play Elinor and Edward respectively, to take on all other characters as well as their own to still present a full production to the waiting audience.
The snappy 60 minute production aims to present a whistle-stop tour of Austen’s classic, with an added dose of comedy and heart. Writer Sophie Pell has really managed to boil the novel down to its most important scenes, leaving out much of the nuance in favour of a beautifully constructed love story within a love story.
Throwing two actors into awkward and unexpected situations, the condensed narrative works very well with the comedy element. Perhaps my only niggle would be that the show starts off with both actors not quite knowing what their bonus-characters’ lines or emotional states are meant to be, but then quickly become fully versed in all other characters and their every word. Perhaps a little more fumbling with scripts would have negated the sudden change from stumbling to well versed.
Apart from that, it’s a brilliantly funny speed-run of Sense & Sensibility, overlaid with a little love story of its own. Both, Madeline Pell and Gareth Balai, are very grounded in their roles, seemingly up for any shenanigans as they whisk from scene to scene, costume to costume, to bring the story to life. At times taking on multiple characters, at times snapping directions at each other, it’s a humorous take on the show must go on.
The perfect fringe show for any Austen fan keen on a sharp comedy with an extra dose of romance.
