Jane Austen’s PERSUASION

Adapted from Jane Austen’s beloved final novel, PERSUASION is a bittersweet story of first love and second chances. Anne Elliot, persuaded by duty and title to give up marriage at a younger age, finds herself again face to face with the man she once refused. By turns heartbreaking and hilarious, this new take on Austen’s quiet masterpiece is refreshingly theatrical while remaining faithful to the original text.

Utah Valley University, 2022. Photo by Graham Whipple.

“This is a brilliant and innovative adaptation of Austen's novel that highlights change over time by casting a Young Anne and Young Frederick to stage memories of the central romance between Anne Elliot and Captain Wentworth. The final scene juxtaposing the younger couple with the more mature couple is just gorgeous. The cast size and literary quality of this script makes it a great choice for colleges and universities.” — Daniel Smith, New Play Exchange

College of St. Benedict | St. John's University, 2014.

“I was a little worried about how the script would be, knowing it was written/adapted by a local author. That was silly of me, because it was fantastic.” — Kara Henry, Front Row Reviewers

“Larson is one of Utah’s most talented playwrights, and her adaptation easily captures the wit and humor of Austen’s style.... Importantly, Larson’s stage version also comes across as a complete work.” — Callie Oppedisano, Utah Theatre Bloggers

“The clever device the playwright employs to explain the broken engagement eight years prior is a series of brief flashback recollections.... It’s revealing to have the older Anne and Wentworth watch and comment during these sequences.” — Blair Howell, The Deseret News

“Letter-writing is such a wonderful and endearing aspect of Jane Austen’s novels and I love the way Larson interprets it.” — Amber Peck, Utah Theatre Bloggers