This production is a humorous satire on the famous Jane Austen novel, Pride and Prejudice. It takes Austen out of the classic genre and re-packages it in a very funny, modern way with a plethora of swear words and vintage ‘Carry On’ type comedy, managing to weave modern nuances through the narrative to comic effect and at the same time, be the faithful plot.
The piece, written and directed by Isobel McArthur incorporates a strong female cast of five who showcased their talents with acting, singing and dancing along with the many nifty costume changes and multi characterisations.
The show starts cleverly with the audience hardly being aware it has started as the cast of five servants busy themselves cleaning the theatre and interacting with the audience, as the audience take their seats and await the start of the show.
The all-female cast comprising, Emma Rose Creaner, Eleanor Kane, Rhianna McGreevy, Naomi Preston Low and Christine Steel are accomplished in all that they do, their talents excel particularly by bringing Austen's servants out from the peripheral below-stairs scenario and thrusting them head-first into the spotlight; they are outstanding in their delivery and timing and are truly a delight to watch.
Unfortunately there were sound issues, and this reviewer was unable to hear most of the dialogue particularly when the actors turned their heads to the side or backwards. Ironically, they had hand-held mics when singing the songs interspersed in the plot. The production would have benefited with them having head mics so that everyone in the auditorium could have enjoyed the show more by being able to hear the dialogue. This reviewer was sitting three rows from the back of the stalls, not very far away from the stage and yet even though the actors were shouting most of the time, they could not be heard well enough to make out what they were saying. This sound issue must be addressed as it was so disappointing not to be able to hear the dialogue properly whilst listening to the audience in the first half a dozen rows or so of the stalls, laughing loudly at what was being said.
Considering the actors had a very weighty script, a multitude of roles from the Bennetts and Bingleys to the priggish Fitzwilliam Darcy, plus the multitude of accents, the many costume changes at break-neck speed and the karaoke-style singing flung out to hilarious effect on a mini boom box, this was a superb performance from the all-female cast who have proved to have conquered their craft, it is one outstanding piece of theatre.
The show works in songs from
Carly Simon to Chris de Burgh and features a string of pop classics such as ‘Young Hearts Run Free’, ‘Will You Still Love
Me Tomorrow’ and ‘You’re So Vain’, all delivered perfectly at strategic parts
of the plot.
The simple stage set remained constant throughout depicting the Bennett’s drawing room and Mr Darcy’s home with a lavish staircase put to good use and with many different pieces of furniture rolled in and out, again by the cast. Additionally, the costumes pulled everything together starting with the actors in very simple dresses to the finery and feather plumes in all their lavish glory for attendance at the many Balls and events of the era.
Isobel McArthur's joyous reinvention of Jane Austen's beloved Pride and Prejudice is a joy, but it would have been even better had the sound been en point.
The show is touring until 14th June 2025, more details here - https://prideandprejudicesortof.com/
Reviewer – Anne Horne
On – 8.04.2025
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