WHS Performing Arts To Present “Sense & Sensibility”

The Westwood High School Performing Arts department will perform its fall play, “Sense & Sensibility,” on November 3, 4, & 6 at 7:30pm. The play was adapted by Kate Hammil from the book by Jane Austen.

“I love the gossips!” Says director Jim Howard. “They are fun roles, and they actually work as an anti-greek chorus. The Greek chorus typically lets the audience know how they should feel about the action of the play. This chorus makes our central characters more sympathetic.”

“Sense & Sensibility” tells the story of Marianne and Elinor Dashwood following the death of their father. Marianne (Katie Barner, last seen as Little Sally in “Urinetown”) is the titular sensibility (in Austen’s era, the term was akin to the modern sensitivity). Her sister Elinor (Lucy Vitali, last fall’s Juliet) provides the sense.

“Losing the run of ‘the Addams family’ was devastating. It was a special group of students who were set up for a tremendous run,” begins Howard, discussing how the COVID-19 pandemic has affected recent WHS performances. “I would say ‘Romeo & Juliet’ and ‘Urinetown’ were great. While they didn't look like typical productions, in so many ways they were. We rehearsed, created a piece of art, and celebrated. Those were highlights in a challenging year. I'm terribly proud of both of those productions.

We are still working on audience protocols, but audience will be expected to wear masks while inside the school. (As expected in any Westwood Public School building.)”

Tickets for “Sense & Sensibility” are on sale on Westwood Stage now.