Review: ‘Emma’ from Shakespeare Tavern and Belle Esprit is inventive, spirited and romantic 

Emma, a co-production of the Atlanta Shakespeare Company and Belle Esprit Theatre Collective running until May 31 at the Shakespeare Tavern, is a delightful, must-see take on Jane Austen’s romantic comedy novel. Grab your girlfriends, gather up your bonnets if you’re so inclined and prepare to have a blast.

This production of Atlanta playwright Claire F. Martin’s bold adaptation, in which she also plays the title character, is full of inventive twists on the novel, spirited performances, lush romance and big laughs. Fans of the book and audiences hungry for solid, energetic storytelling will be equally pleased. 

The novel Emma, which has inspired multiple film adaptations — including the 1990s comedy delight Clueless — obviously is terrific source material. But in bringing it to the Tavern stage known for audience interaction, Martin adds in modern dramatic elements to fantastic effect. There are fourth wall breaks akin to Phoebe Waller-Bridge’s one-woman-show and TV series Fleabag, where the lead character shares her asides with the audience.

Deftly staged by Director Kati Grace Kirby, the show zips along with constant, sharp humor and energy. The cast appears to be having a great time bringing this quirky array of personalities to life. Even the Tavern’s design team brings its A-game, with the lighting design by Jeff Watkins and set design by Watkins and Joseph Francis Rossidivito expanding the stage to create a unique world for this story.

In 1814, in the English countryside, young Emma Woodhouse (Martin) has a passion for matchmaking among the townsfolk, even if she doesn’t exactly have a knack for it. Her former governess (Daniela Santiago) now married, Emma decides to start finding a husband for the shy, sweet Harriet Smith (Golbanoo Setayesh), a new friend who has no money or known family. 

Right away, Emma encourages Harriet to reject the proposal of a farmer (Keithen Neville) and pursue the vicar Elton (Kevin Roost), who always fawns over everything Emma does.

Emma’s closest confidant is the dashing nobleman George Knightley (Luke Robbins), who teases her for constantly meddling in the lives of others and trying to be in charge of everything. But Emma is headstrong and cannot be stopped, which causes no end of shenanigans for her fussy dad (Nicholas Faircloth), a chatterbox neighbor named Miss Bates (Amanda Lindsey McDonald) and others in the town.

In her writing and performance, Martin infuses the title character with appealing confidence and spunk, while slyly displaying her flaws from the start. Her own monologues get interrupted so that she can order around staff to get things exactly the way she wants. There’s a tightrope Martin walks throughout the play, balancing whether Emma is independent and daring or just a Type-A control freak. Martin is pitch-perfect, warm and funny as our heroine.

Robbins is a good match for her onstage. Their chemistry crackles as he finds her exasperating. Knightley broods a bit, challenges her often and is very dashing and attractive.

Roost, playing multiple roles, is amazing in this show, given moments of broad physical comedy as Elton. Then later, as he embodies the mysterious suitor Frank Churchill, Roost is roguish and appealing in an altogether different way. Frequently, Roost has to play both characters in the same scene, which he does seamlessly.

Setayesh, McDonald and Sarah Hack, who is playing a wildly over-the-top villainess in the second act, are all doing terrific work here. The script gives every cast member moments to win the audience over. Austen’s wit and specificity with her characters’ quirks give the actors many opportunities to shine while they build this world.

It’s a wonderful show — fun, romantic and dazzling with innovation. Do not miss it.

Where & When

Emma is at the Shakespeare Tavern through May 31. Tickets are just $20.
499 Peachtree St. NE.

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Benjamin Carr is an ArtsATL editor-at-large who has contributed to the publication since 2019 and is a member of the American Theatre Critics Association, the Dramatists Guild, the Atlanta Press Club and the Horror Writers Association. His writing has been featured in podcasts for iHeartMedia, onstage as part of the Samuel French Off-Off Broadway Short Play Festival and online in The Guardian. His debut novel, Impacted, was published by The Story Plant.