Emma

The set consisted of two flats upstage right decorated with period-style silhouette pictures, with 2 chairs and a table in front of them and a chaise stage left. The set was in darkness before the start of the show, and I felt that some low light would have 'lifted' it at this point. Similarly, some light on the character (whom we later discovered to be Jane Austen) who was sitting on the forestage before curtain would have added interest.
Jane Austen adaptations present a lot of challenges to the director and actors. There is very little 'action' but a lot of conversation which means that they are often very wordy and static. This adaptation is written to be performed continuously, that is with one scene flowing straight into another, often with the help of a narrator (shared between Austen herself and Emma). In this style of writing, I am not sure that it is necessary for the actors to leave the stage as much as they did here, nor for each scene change to occur in blackout. Had the actors simply moved to their next position, more interest and variety could have been created.
Frequently Emma stepped out of the scene and addressed the audience directly. For each of these monologues she was placed centre stage, and I think more interest could have been created if she had occasionally stayed within the scene, simply turning her head to the audience (with a corresponding lighting change, perhaps).
The minimalist set was moved by the actors and this generally worked well. I particularly liked Emma and Mr Elton in the carriage at the back of the stage. Occasionally it seemed an effort for the cast to manoeuvre all the furniture to the back of the stage through a small gap in the curtains, and I wondered why the curtains could not have been opened wider. However, the minimalist set did convey the different locations well, and I particularly liked the garden arbour.
Costumes seemed authentic for the period, apart from a couple of gowns in the party scene. I was unsure whether men of the period would have removed their jackets in the presence of ladies, and also whether ladies would remove their bonnets when paying a visit to a neighbour. 
Make up seemed appropriate from where I was sitting, and hair also seemed to be compatible with the period. I liked Miss Fairfax's curls, which were frequently referred to.
Music and sound effects were well cued. The birdsong in the garden was very atmospheric.
Lighting alternated between a general wash and a semi-blackout, with a couple of areas highlighted for monologues (Emma and Jane Austen). These were generally effective and well-cued.
All actors spoke at a good pace and generally picked up cues well, but even so the pace seemed to be an issue at times. I think that this was perhaps due to a lack of variety in the pace rather than the pace itself, coupled with a very 'wordy' script. When Mrs Elton appeared at the beginning of Act 2, the pace picked up considerably, and this was because her speaking rhythm was different to everyone else. This was an excellent example of how cutting across the pace enlivens the text.
 

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