Northanger
Abbey is one of my most
favourite novels. It is the first Jane Austen I ever read, and gave me
a taste for the rest of her writing. The reason I enjoyed this book so
much was that it was readily apparent that Jane Austen was satirising
her society. The fantasies of Catherine Morland I felt would be hard to portray when I first heard that a production of the book was being made. Having seen, and re-seen this production many times I find that the dramatists method of portraying the fantasies (although more graphic than Jane Austen) were well done. The only thing that I ever had concerns about in this production was the music, however on reflection I feel that this is also representative of a hallucinogenic extension to Catherine's fantasies.
Catherine Schlesinger is perfect in displaying the wide eyed innocence of Catherine Moreland. I have always been a fan of Peter Firth (ever since the Double Deckers), and I found that he made a perfect Henry Tilney. I am also a fan of Robert Hardy, however I find that his acting extends to playing one character, that of Robert Hardy. His portrayal of General Tilney is exactly the same as his portrayal of Siegfried Farnan in All Creatures Great and Small, and this is very much like his portrayal of just about every other character he has performed.
Catherine Morland's delight of Bath is exquisitely done, and builds up in the viewer an enthusiasm for the character.
It is a pity however that Jane's satirising of the minor 17th century Gothic novels in the book was omitted from this production. It is probable however that such satirisation would not be understood by the general public today because of their unfamiliarity with the novels being sent up. Such novels as the Midnight Bell, the Necromancer, and Horrid Mysteries are generally unheard-of today except to the connoisseur. The Mysteries of Udolpho are only vaguely known to the general public. Without an appreciation of Jane Austen's satire on these novels Northanger Abbey becomes a very flimsy work to the reader, even so this production is beautifully done.