Alfred Lord Tennyson may have famously said that it is better to have loved and lost than to never have loved at all, but the Newman Players’ Persuasion is looking to convince its audience otherwise.

Directed by Ian Elliott and Rachelle Hosak and adapted from the novel of the same name written by Jane Austen, the Newman Players’ rendition of Persuasion will be performed in the Father O’Donnell Auditorium at St. Thomas More College from March 12 to 15.

The play tells a classic tale of lost love through its main characters Frederick Wentworth (Graham Schmitz) and Anne Elliot (Kathleen MacLean). The  subject matter that Austen tackles may seem outdated and stuffy at first glance, but Schmitz and MacLean assure audiences that the story is still as witty and engaging as it was 200 years ago.

“This is a pretty relatable story and it’s kind of saucy for its time,” said MacLean.

Persuasion tackles the theme of class struggle in a superficial society through a satirical lens, combining dry humour with sharp social criticism to create a play that is both entertaining and thought-provoking.

Schmitz (left) and MacLean’s characters embrace when reunited after seven years of separation.

In staying true to Austen’s portrayal of Victorian society, the Newman Players will be using period costumes and props to aid in their performance. Schmitz and MacLean said historical representation doesn’t end at the set design, however. Body language, expressions and even the simplest of gestures were highly restricted in the 1800s, especially for women.

“It’s difficult to have to be so aware of your body, because usually if you’re doing something funny or different you can kind of bring yourself into it whereas in this you have to be composed,” said MacLean. “There’s certain things that we can’t do because they’re too modern.”

“I tried to get in the headspace of what it was like back then and understand the pressures and limits that were set for everyone,” added Schmitz.

This consciousness of social standing is particularly crucial for MacLean’s character, Anne, as the reason that she and Wentworth cut their relationship short was her family’s disapproval of him as a suitor.

The Elliots are “all about blood and social status and how wealthy people are,” said MacLean. “The reason she said no to Wentworth was because she was persuaded by her family and chose what was right for them rather than what was right for her.”

The emotional upheaval that results from the star-crossed lovers being forced to part due to circumstances beyond their control is what MacLean believes to be most relatable part of the play.

“A lot of my inspiration came from reading the actual novel and being like, ‘I’ve felt this way before!’” she said.

MacLean and Schmidt even acted out a breakup between themselves in real life in order to get in the right mindset to accurately portray their characters’ emotions.

“To help us get into it I thought, ‘okay, we’re just going to take a moment and fake breakup with each other,’” said MacLean. “It was so intense, I thought I was going to cry.”

“But it’s helped so much on stage,” Schmitz added. “Our characters never talk directly about our past until the very end, there’s just kind of awkward allusions to it. But that method helped a lot in those situations.”

This willingness to step into their characters’ shoes no matter how uncomfortable it may be at times is a perfect reflection of the group of talented young actors that make up the Newman Players. The dedication that the cast put into portraying a historically accurate representation of a classic novel and how much fun they had doing it is what the two actors believe makes Persuasion a must-see.

“I know a lot of people think, ‘Jane Austen, that’s so dry,’” said MacLean. “But we really tried hard to bring life into it.”

“Our directors have done a lot to add things to scenes, liven them up and add humour,” Schmitz added.

If you’re looking for a performance that combines cheeky British wit, insightful societal criticism and the universally relatable anguish of lost love, then the Newman Players’ Persuasion is a show that you won’t want to miss.

Persuasion will be running from March 12 to 15. Tickets are $5 for students and $10 for members of the public and can be purchased online at www.picatic.com/persuasion

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Photo: Clarissa Kostiuk