In fact, the family produced plays for many years while JA was growing up in Steventon. She wrote a couple of short ones herself in her juvenilia ("The Mystery" is a real hoot). Her brother James wrote prologues to several of them.

And, moreover, when in later life her own mother read her published novels aloud, JA criticised her for getting the expression wrong. (Can't put my finger on the sources for either of these, but I'm sure I remember correctly.) The "performance" aspect of her novels shouldn't be forgotten, I think. That's why audiobooks are such an "authentic" as well as a good way to enjoy them.