Jane Austen's "Sense and Sensibility" was published in 1811, but the storyline is just as relevant today as it was more than 200 years ago, said the Manheim Central High School students who are cast in the play, based on the novel. The play will be performed at Manheim Central Middle School, 261 White Oak Road, Manheim, at 7 p.m. on Friday and Saturday, Nov. 18 and 19, and at 2 p.m. on Sunday, Nov. 20.

"Even though the story takes place a long time ago, people are still motivated by the same things today as they are in the play," said Jonathan Wenger, a senior who plays Colonel Brandon. "It's all about love and money."

Set in late 18th-century England, "Sense and Sensibility" tells the story of sisters Elinor and Marianne Dashwood, who find themselves penniless and alone after their father dies suddenly. The pair must learn to find happiness in a society where reputation is everything and money rules all.

Ava Graff, a sophomore who portrays Marianne Dashwood, said audiences can expect to relate to the characters on stage. "The issues of the struggle of women are still relevant today," she shared. "The economic issues facing families are relevant, and the way women are perceived in society is still relevant."

Although the play may sound like it covers serious topics, it's full of humorous moments, said Lauren Huber, a senior who plays Elinor Dashwood. "It has some fun dancing and choreography on stage, which is a little bit unexpected and not typical in a play," she remarked. "Come prepared for the unexpected in general. The way the show is done is very different from the book, or, if you've seen the movie of 'Sense and Sensibility,' it's different from that as well."

Ava noted that the play provided opportunities to get creative. "People get to form set pieces, and a lot of the action is very big and exaggerated," she said. "Jane Austen was making fun of society when she wrote the book, so the play reflects that. It's a commentary on society."

Not only did the cast members have to learn to speak with a British accent for the show, said Ben Ginder, a senior who plays John Dashwood, but they also had to fully understand their characters - even if that character was very different from themselves. "In my case, my character is not a caring person, so learning how to deliver my lines in a way that is mean has been a challenge for me," he said. "We've all been working not just on our accents, but on how our characters act, how they walk, how they interact with each other."

He encouraged everyone to come to see the show and emphasized that people should not be intimated by the time period of the play. "It's a very easy-to-understand show. It's easy to get into the characters and what's happening on stage," he remarked. "It's not like trying to read Shakespeare."

To purchase tickets, visit https://events.ticketspicket.com and search for "Manheim Central High School." Tickets will also be available at the door.