] Vickery goes on to say that "Minimal publicity, a small audience, a suitable play and senior family members en costume put the stamp of innocent diversion on family play-acting".

Thanks for bringing out this point, Deborah Julia. I found it interesting that private theatricals were a topic within several novels of the era (p. 235 footnote 30). I may have to look into some of the other works mentioned so I can better understand what goes on in Mansfield Park.

And I liked the idea of Mrs. Norris playacting -- I am quite sure she could not restrict herself to two and forty speeches!