Promise and Promiscuity – A New Musical was reviewed at the Festival Spiegeltent as part of the Canterbury Festival. The show continues touring until 15 November.
Star rating: four stars ★ ★ ★ ★ ✩
Penny Ashton, who has performed at the Glastonbury Festival and the Jane Austen Festival in Bath, has travelled all the way from New Zealand for the UK tour of her one-woman show, Promise and Promiscuity.
Tied with Jane Austen’s best works, the performance follows the life of the headstrong Miss Elspeth (think Pride and Prejudice‘s Elizabeth Bennet) as she battles literary snobbery, cousin Horatio’s digestions and her mother’s nerves.
Although categorically a one-woman show, Ashton brings a full cast of Austen-esque characters to life. Each character is cleverly differentiated by their distinct mannerisms, highlighting Ashton’s excellent characterisation skills.
Promise and Promiscuity essentially falls under a satirical musical not so much about Austen’s works, but the misogynistic society which existed during their time.
This doesn’t, however, mean you have to be an Austen fan to appreciate the show (although gloating when you can recall all 33 lines directly plucked from Austen’s texts is perfectly acceptable).
The show’s comedy mainly lies in Ashton’s modern day allusions: an etiquette lesson from Kimberline Kardashian makes for an excellent first number – a 21st century take on a song which cleverly fits with a Strauss piece. It is disappointing however that none of the music (arranged by Robbie Ellis) is original to accompany Ashton’s witty lyrics.
Ashton’s performance at the Canterbury Festival proved itself to be eventful, to say the least. Despite a few technical complications, the disruption of an abnormally loud car alarm and a nasty fall – which lead to a few expletives and a pulled muscle – Ashton remained professional throughout.
Polly Sisley
www.hotpink.co.nz/shows/promise-and-promiscuity
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