Hear the name Jane Austen and images of genteel heroines navigating precarious social standings, amid country manor homes, Lords, Ladies, and, of course, dashing suitors, spring instantly to mind. That is precisely the world audiences enter in the opening scenes of Kanata Theatre’s production of The Watsons, on stage at the Ron Maslin Playhouse until April 4.
Written by multi-award-winning British playwright Laura Wade, The Watsons begins as an unfinished Austen work before taking a sharp, and thoroughly engaging turn into modernity. Director Val Bogan is no stranger to Wade’s work; she helmed Kanata Theatre’s successful 2025 production of Home, I’m Darling, another witty and insightful exploration of gender roles, financial pressures, and the complexities of love.
With a cast of 22, the production is an ambitious undertaking, but Bogan rises to the challenge with confidence. She leans on seasoned performers such as Lindsey Keene, Dawson Flemming, Naomi James, Mylène Freeman, and Susan Monaghan—faces that will be familiar to Ottawa theatre-goers for their consistently strong work. At the same time, a host of newcomers take on smaller roles, underscoring the creative outlet and sense of community that Kanata Theatre continues to foster across the region.
The play opens in the Watson family’s pre-Victorian manor home. It’s not fancy—the sisters are forced to fold the laundry on the dining room table—and it is a full house. Emma Watson (Lindsey Keene), who an aunt raised after the death of her mother, is sent back to her family. There are rumblings that the aunt has remarried a younger man who took control of the money, effectively displacing Emma from any possible inheritance. Her widowed and gravely ill father (Matt McDonald) is cared for by her devoted sister Elizabeth (Mylène Freeman), while younger sister Margaret (Olivia Lee Brown) appears blissfully unconcerned with anything beyond securing a suitable match—a preoccupation shared, to varying degrees, by her siblings. There is also a faithful housekeeper, Nanny (Susan Monaghan).
Emma’s return breathes new life into the local unmarried aristocracy, who are eager to mingle with the Watsons’ middle child. The dialogue is sharp and witty, delivered with an ease that keeps the audience fully engaged. The cast shares a palpable chemistry, grounding the story in authenticity. Just as you settle into the rhythm of this period drama, however, the play pivots. We are introduced to the character of “The Writer”, setting the scene for a clash between creator and creation. If you find yourself wavering—as one couple near me admitted before slipping out at intermission—don’t.
Act One is well played, but Act Two is where The Watsons truly comes alive. Without giving too much away, it becomes a delightfully inventive piece of theatre in which every twist feels fresh and unexpected, seamlessly blending Regency-period sensibilities with contemporary commentary. Sometimes chaotic, sometimes a bit risqué, the tone is lighthearted and thoroughly enjoyable.
Clockwise from top left: Mr. Edwards (Matt McDonald), Lady Osborne (Arlene Watson), Robert Watson (Roy van Hooydink), Mr, Howard (Scott Simms), Elizabeth (Mylène Freeman); Maragret Watson (Olivia Lee Brown) and Emma Watson (Lindsey Keene); Mr. Edwards, Tom Musgrave (Cameron Bishop), Mr. Howard, Lord Osborne (Dawson Fleming), and Laura (Naomi James); Charles (Milo Tibbits) and Emma Watson.
Visually, the production is equally effective. Aside from the striking four-poster bed that anchors centre stage as the lights rise, David Magladry’s set design is understated but purposeful. It establishes the world without overwhelming it, allowing the performances and the script to take centre stage while employing a few clever theatrical flourishes along the way. The costumes, crafted by Caity Hegger and her team, further draw the audience into the period. I do love an empire waist!
Kanata Theatre’s production of The Watsons runs evenings through Saturday, April 4, with a matinee on Sunday, March 29.
Tickets are available through the online box office or by calling 613.831.4435.
Subscriptions for the 2026–2027 season are also now on sale, with the new season set to begin in September 2026.
Photos: Alex Henkelman Photography
