In
Austen Found, Ashton and Dungey – with musical accompaniment from Jason Smith – reveal previously unpublished works by Austen. On opening night, Ashton and Dungey performed “Humble and Haughty”, the touching tale of Catherine Tobias-Bottom. Catherine is a shy, retiring maiden of 21 years (“almost ancient”) who learns to become more thrusting (yup, pretty much every imaginable double-entendre was wrung out of that one) so as to catch the attention of the Edward Courtney, who saves her from the evil snares of the very tall German Mr Gazelle and learns to be less haughty in the process. The characters, names, settings, and a key plot line revolving around a rabid badger are all audience suggestions, and gentlemen in the audience should be ready to participate in stately dance. As always with improv, part of the audience’s joy (mixed with a fair amount of anxiety) comes from seeing how the performers will incorporate everything that’s thrown at them, while keeping