We are all astonishment! When did our dear Miss Woodhouse become so shamelessly neurotic and egotistical? Has our Mr. Knightley consumed some inferior meat that he is thus dyspeptic? And is our young Harriet Smith truly singing of consuming an entire bottle of wine and vomiting on a fellow ball attendee's dress? The very idea! Confound the sung inner monologue anyway.
And confound "Jane Austen's Emma: A Musical Romantic Comedy," a greatly wrong-headed effort at the Old Globe Theater directed by choreographer-director Jeff Calhoun. In trying to "make [Austen's] characters sing," adaptor-composer Paul Gordon ("Jane Eyre") has trivialized them or over-milked their humor potential. Regrettably, Calhoun's cast seems to fall every bit into step.
There have been enough film and TV adaptations that the tale of Jane Austen's flawed matchmaker should now be familiar even to non-Anglophiles. Emma Woodhouse (Patti Murin) makes a series of bad and/or selfish choices in an effort to bring about the happiness of her friends, most or all of which backfire. Despite his constant criticisms of her, Mr. Knightley (Adam Monley), Emma's longtime friend, may have deeper feelings than he first allows. At Emma's urging, her countrified new friend Harriet Smith (Dani Marcus) rejects farmer Robert Martin (Adam Daveline) in hopes of wedding pompous vicar Mr. Elton (Brian Herndon). Repercussions ensue.
Despite the dresses and mannerisms, Calhoun and Gordon are clearly champing at the proverbial bit to give this tale a contemporary flavor. A running gag has Harriet's suitor reading (and not recommending) the books "Pride and Prejudice" and "Sense and Sensibility," and having Harriet carry around a cherished walnut bestowed upon her by her eventual beloved is equally dopey. Murin's Emma employs the same radiant smile for all occasions. She sings sweetly yet is forced to mangle a pianoforte performance while singing—inner monologue again—about how she hates her voice.
Gordon tries to infuse his music with a Sondheim-like bounce and rhymes, not to much effect. Most impressive is Tobin Ost's topiary-maze scenery through which characters emerge or revolve via a turntable. Pity the creative vision of this Emma couldn't have matched that originality.
Presented by and at the Old Globe Theater, 1363 Old Globe Way, San Diego. Jan. 15–Mar. 6. Tue.–Wed., Sun., 7 p.m.; Thu.–Sat., 8 p.m., Sat.–Sun. 2 p.m. (619) 234-5623. www.theoldglobe.org.