Audiences stepped into the gossipy world of late 18th-century England and followed the romantic fates of the Dashwood sisters in a modern variation of a Jane Austen classic.

The MHS Theater Ensemble presented Kate Hamill’s adaptation of Sense and Sensibility in two shows on Friday, November 10, and Saturday, November 11. Performances took place in the Woods Theater of the Elizabeth Gatchell Klein Arts Center on the Miss Hall’s School campus.

This adaptation, told with a fresh female voice, follows the fortunes (and misfortunes) of the Dashwood sisters after their father’s death leaves them financially destitute and socially vulnerable. The sisters and their mother are forced to leave their family estate and move to a modest home, where Elinor and Marianne experience romance and heartbreak, and their lives take unexpected turns.

The MHS production featured Iva Knezevic ’24 as the sensible Elinor Dashwood, Avah DeBenedetto ’27 as sensitive Marianne Dashwood, Eleanor Jacobsen ’27 as the youngest sister, Margaret, and Sonia Rundle ’27 as their mother, Mrs. Dashwood, and Anne Steele. Guest actor Elliot Trainor plays John Willoughby, the object of Marianne’s affections, and Naomi Hopkins ’24 plays both Edward Ferrars — the object of Elinor’s affections — and Edward’s brother, Robert.

The show also starred Kat Lunden ’25 as both John Dashwood — the half-brother to the Dashwood sisters — and Lady Middleton, Carolin Arndt ’25 as Fanny (Ferrars) Dashwood and Mrs. Ferrars, EA Peña ’25 as Colonel Brandon, Myles Patton ’27 as Sir John Middleton, the Doctor, and the Servant, Sutra Chakma ’24 as Mrs. Jennings, and Lilith Ladouceur-Murray ’26 as Lucy Steele.

Additionally, Carolin, EA, Eleanor, Kat, Myles, Naomi, Sonia, and Sutra all played roles as “Gossips,” high-society sorts whose favorite pastimes are observing and judging.

The play’s technical crew included Stage Managers Molly Casey ’24, Mackenzie Ennis ’24, and Carrie Zhou ’24, while Izzy Aponte ’26, Inyene Bell ’25, Itza Jimenez ’27, and Kara Kisselbrock ’26 manage props and costumes, with assistance from Marianna Bartz ’27, who also manages sound design.

The performance was directed by Jennifer Jordan, MHS Director of Theater and Dance.