The titular character of Miss Emma’s Matchmaking Agency For Literary Characters is, of course, the ardently romantic and somewhat naive titular character of Jane Austen’s 1815 novel, Emma. In this play, presented by ad hoc players, Emma maintains her idealistic views on love, but instead of setting up her friends, she aims to find soulmates for her fellow literary icons.

The foil for Lilian Oben’s Emma is the infamous lothario Don Juan, played by Ahmad Helmy. He is working for the matchmaking service because of a court order, and his pragmatic take on love and passion provides a contrast to Emma as they try to find mates for their fictional friends.

As one would expect, the script by The Washington Post’s Alexandra Petri is brimming with bookish witticisms that include more than just references to the works from which the characters are drawn, but also clever puns and innuendo that find humor in the sometimes anachronistic source material. Joan Cummins’ direction allows the language to take center stage, and the actors do a serviceable job in communicating the lines. Standouts among the cast include Milica Bogetic, who plays Daisy from The Great Gatsby and Esther Greenwood from The Bell Jar. The interaction between the latter character and Salinger’s Holden Caulfield (played by Nick Martin) was a highlight. Caleb Erikson plays noir detective Philip Marlowe from Raymond Chandler’s novels, and his date with Nancy Drew also provides a number of laughs.

Miss Emma’s Matchmaking Agency is a solid effort, and its tone is perfect for Capital Fringe. The nature of the festival means the quality of the productions can vary widely, and if you’re looking to catch just a show or two at this year’s event, this play is a safe bet.

Miss Emma’s Matchmaking Agency For Literary Characters is playing at the Atlas Performing Arts Center. Remaining performances:

Wednesday, July 16 at 8:30 p.m.
Saturday, July 19 at 2:45 p.m.
Thursday, July 24 at 8:15 p.m.
Saturday, July 26 at 6:45 p.m.

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