Masterpiece Theatre: Northanger Abbey (2007)

*sigh* I think all girls grow up with tales of romance from Jane Austen. Lord knows I'm still waiting for my Mr. Darcy. The second of six adaptations of Austen novels from Masterpiece Theatre, Northanger Abbey is new to me; however, the story is pure Austen.

This time our heroine is Catherine Moreland. A young girl from a quiet village of moderate wealth and a penchant for 'horrid' Gothic novels. The naive Cathy gets her first taste of many different things on a trip to Bath. she learns life lessons and a bit of love through her interactions with two very different families vacationing there-- the manipulative Thorpes who are desperate to raise their social status and sophisticated and mysterious Tilneys.

As with most productions from across the pond, Northanger Abbey is lavish and quite beautiful. The period costuming and set design is scrumptious. The cast is just charming. The woman are like porcelain dolls--pale complexions with the straightest of posture. Felicity Jones is beautiful.

Our dashing males are Mr. Henry Tilney (JJ Field) and John Thorpe (William Beck). Fortunately for us, Cathy is set for one early on, but must go hither and yon to truly discover her hearts desires.

Not having read the book, I can't vouch for sincerity to the book. It is a delightful adaptation all the same. Like all of her novels, Northanger Abbey is a blissfully romantic tale that is sure to please with just the right amount of cheeky spirit from our heroine.