Mini Austenpalooza Headed Down Under

Janeites in Australia will soon enjoy the delights of four of Jane Austen’s cannon adapted for the screen. According to this advance interview of Actress Sally Hawkins who portrayed Anne Elliot in the ITV production of Persuasion (2007), it looks like the month of June has been dedicated as a mini Austenpalooza down under. Starting with Emma (Kate Beckinsale version 1996), the weekly Sunday evening airings will also include the new (2007) versions of Persuasion on June 8, Northanger Abbey on June 15, and Mansfield Park on June 22.

What no Pride and Prejudice (1995), Sense and Sensibility (2008) and Miss Austen Regrets (2008) to ‘complete’ the ensemble that North American audiences enjoyed this past winter with The Complete Jane Austen on PBS? Let’s hope that they head that way soon, for what else do Janeites live for but total emersion, right?



Actress Sally Hawkins has some interesting comments to add about her take on Austen and her motives for writing.

"I think Jane is echoed in all her heroines, in all her novels," Hawkins says. "If you look at them as a set of complete works, you can see a real woman growing up. Her wit is there, apparent through all her heroines, and that is very much at the core."

Australian audiences have the double advantage of previous airing of these adaptations in the UK and North America, and many reviews are about. To prep yourself for each production (spoilers afoot), here are some reviews of the high and low points of each production.


Emma

• JANE AUSTEN MOVIE CLUB: Emma (1996/TV)
• The Complete Jane Austen "Emma" by Jessica Emerson
• Emma Review: By the Vacuous and Vulgar Mrs. Elton
• Fun Friday–Emma, by Kaye Dacus

Persuasion

• Review: Madcap PBS 'Persuasion' sacrifices nuance
• Persuasion Review: “almost too good for me”?
• The Complete Jane Austen "Persuasion" by Victoire Sanborn

Northanger Abbey

• Northanger Abbey: A Review
• 'Northanger Abbey' is lighthearted Austen
• Northanger Abbey Review: An Austen Adventure

Mansfield Park

• Mansfield Park Review: No Hope of a Cure
• The Dummification of Mansfield Park
• The Complete Jane Austen "Mansfield Park" by Lori Smith
• Mansfield Park–My Reaction, Kaye Ducas

Posted by Laurel Ann, Austenprose