Jane’s niece, Anna Lefroy, was captured by R.H.C. Ubsdell in a tiny miniature in October 1845 when she was writing her continuation of Sanditon, intent on its completion and publication.
She may not have got to an ending but she got two thirds of the way through the story, and having been in touch with Jane in her last dying months would have known as much about Jane’s original inspiration as anyone. Anna’s writing may not have quite the quality of Jane’s but there are still some gorgeous early 19th Century words and phraseology to be found within it.
A new play adapts the Jane Austen fragment for its first half, starts its second half with the Anna Lefroy fragment and ties up all the various plot ideas, and comes up with the obvious (but surprisingly contemporary) conclusion of how the Parker Brothers were to come together to save Sanditon.
The play auditions on Saturday 19th April at the Headgate Theatre Colchester for rehearsals leading to a ‘Rehearsed Reading’ at the theatre on Friday 27th June at 7.45. It is hoped further development of the play for costume performance and filming will follow.
Please see
www.sanditon.info
Headgate Theatre Colchester,What’s On
http://www.theatresonline.com/theatres/colchester-theatres/the-headgate-theatre/whats-on.html