#ChanceItLA
Jane Austen’s Emma Frankenstein is a fun show from start to finish. The script relies on kitsch and novelty, sprinkling just enough of it in to keep the audience entertained, and then relies on what people already know of Austen and Mary Shelley’s characters for everything else. FYI - even if you’re only familiar with one of Austen’s works, you’ll be fine.
As a self-proclaimed book nerd I loved the literary jokes, but missed the point of the old TV jingles. Judging by the laughter they elicited, other people got those. So there’s enough in there to cover a wide range of interests. The actors are also well aware of the type of show they are in and act accordingly - no one is too small, no one is too big, they’re all just right. Which can be tricky to pull off, so I applaud the production for that.
What makes this show a Chance It instead of a See It, is the music. The musical numbers would have benefited from additional rehearsals and some microphones. The Main Stage is a big space, and even sitting half way up the audience, it was hard to hear the majority of the singers. In addition, the group numbers were clumsy and lacked polish. As this is a musical, singing encompasses most of the show.
That being said, it was still fun. If kitsch is your jam, definitely go check this out.
Review by Kat Michels