The Story So Far
The story of Persuasion revolves around Anne Elliott -- the now-faded daughter of Sir Walter, a vain and conceited Baronet in debt -- who was persuaded to give up her romance with a naval officer when she was 19 (Persuasion). Eight years later, Captain Wentworth reappears as Anne’s family rents out their stately home to his sister and her husband, a wealthy retired admiral. (Miss Austen introduces The Elliots). Before Anne joins her family in Bath, she visits her locally married sister, and watches as Capt. Wentworth becomes a great favorite with her young sisters-in-law (Off to Lyme). Much flirtation leads to a general consensus that Capt. Wentworth will propose to young Louisa, whom he encourages to be strong-willed, in comparison with the overly pliant Anne. When the enthusiastic Louisa insists on jumping off a high sea-wall at Lyme, Wentworth misses catching her, and Louisa is knocked unconscious. He does all he can to help her and her family, but when it seems she will recover, he flees. (Sickroom/Run). Luckily, Louisa makes other plans (thanks to Captain Benwick and the Romantic poets.). Anne and her elder neighbor and mentor, Lady Russell, join her family in their new home in Bath. They are met there by the handsome and agreeable Mister Elliott, a distant cousin who is heir to Sir Walter’s estate, and seems particularly interested in Anne (When in Bath). Bath is chiefly seen as a marriage market, but Anne visits a widowed schoolmate who is there to treat her crippling rheumatism, and they share their sorrows (Sympathetic Duet). Mrs. Smith knows enough about Mr. Elliot to warn Anne of his duplicity, but Anne sees that already. When Capt. Wentworth arrives in Bath, he is ready to appeal to Anne again, but Mr. Elliot seems to be her family’s choice, so that Anne would one day become Lady Elliot and return to their family manor. Gossip in Bath sees them as a couple already (Would an’ if I Could). But what if Miss Elliott’s sycophantic companion Mrs. Clay entices Sir Walter into a second marriage, and begets a male heir? Mr. Elliot’s attempts to put a stop to that are his downfall, and Captain Wentworth sees his chance to persuade Anne to share his Life At Sea. He makes his feelings known through a slyly delivered letter, and Anne is his. They are married on shipboard by the Admiral with family complaining and all flags flying. In our company curtain call, the patchwok quilt of our Finale celebrates Jane Austen, and her ability to create happy endings in her stories, whereas real life so often sadly disappoints.