Classic meets contemporary in Maine South’s ‘Sense and Sensibility’ production

Maine South Theatre invites audiences to experience a fresh, playful take on Jane Austen’s beloved “Sense and Sensibility,” adapted for the stage by Kate Hamill.

Performances will be at 7 p.m. Thursday to Saturday, Oct. 15-17, in the Maine South auditorium, 1111 S. Dee Road in Park Ridge. Tickets are $12 or $10 for students, available at the door for cash or check only.

While remaining rooted in the elegance and expectations of the Regency era, this production takes a lighter, brighter approach to the familiar story. The play leans into the humor, absurdities, and sometimes downright silly nuances of finding love in a society where reputation, social standing, and propriety seem to dictate just about everything.

Audiences will find themselves immersed in a distinctly Regency world through period-specific costumes, furnishings, movement, and mannerisms, but with plenty of unexpected surprises along the way. Vibrant and playful color palettes, a contemporary British indie-pop soundscape, and an interactive, imaginative set bring a modern theatrical energy to this classic tale.

“Our student actors have worked diligently to capture the movement, gestures, and social conventions of the period, helping audiences experience both the charm and the constraints of the world in which the Dashwood sisters find themselves,” said Joey Fitzpatrick, Maine South fine arts teacher and director of theatre. “From the choices made on stage to the thoughtful, personalized design details woven throughout the production, students have played an integral role in shaping the world of this show. The result is a production that honors the heart of Austen’s story while embracing the spirited, irreverent energy of Hamill’s adaptation.”

Whether you’re a longtime Jane Austen fan or discovering the Dashwood sisters for the first time, this is a feel-good theatrical experience filled with humor, heart, romance, and a reminder that sometimes finding love means learning to break a few rules along the way.

You won’t want to miss this fresh take on a familiar classic.