Pride and Prejudice, Jermyn Street Theatre Review
Written by Cathie for Theatre and Tonic.
Disclaimer: Gifted tickets in return for an honest review. All opinions are our own.
It is a truth universally acknowledged that if you are going to do a Regency-era adaptation, Pride and Prejudice will bring you the crowds. Abigail Pickard Price's adaptation of Pride and Prejudice at Jermyn Street Theatre tackles the challenge of bringing Jane Austen's well known romance to the stage in a fresh and inviting way. This production differs in that it uses three actors (Luke Barton, April Hughes and Sarah Gobran) to play 17 characters of this novel.
I preface the rest of this review by noting that I have read this novel so often that I know it by heart. Therefore, I was able to follow along with all the plot points, changes in scenery and witty jokes quite well. If you are less familiar with the storyline you can still access the content well but you might be finding a few moments where you are less certain of the themes and subtext. The novel’s spirit and use of satire has remained well preserved, however, in this adaptation Elizabeth (April Hughes) is our narrator and we see the script, co-written by Pickard Price, Sarah Gobran, and Matt Pinches, focus on the defining moments of Mr Darcy and Elizabeth’s evolving relationship. Therefore, this adaptation trims most of the secondary characters, such as the Lucas family and many servants and their dialogue, which although lovely to read, would do nothing but muddle a theatre representation of this story. This trimming cuts out most of the broader social commentary but also allows the comedic elements to truly shine, including a hilarious reaction to Mr Collin’s proposal and some truly fabulous assembly balls and dinner parties. Some of my favourite moments include the rapid switching of characters within the same scene with ribbons and hats to delineate the change.
The cast were a terrific trio at bringing all of these characters to life so well. Barton's portrayal of Lydia and Mr. Collins stands out for its witty humour, and I was in stitches at his sneering Lady Catherine with her tiara. Hughes' Elizabeth varies between doe eyed and strident, sometimes overshadowing the character’s infamous wit but showcasing her strength of personality well. Her Bingley was absolutely hilarious. Gobran was also fabulous as Mrs Bennet and Jane and had the audience wrapped around her finger as her sly comedic wit came out more and more throughout the play. My only negative is that the second half, while much speedier in racing through the plot shows a lack of strength in the connection between Darcy and Elizabeth and it rather pales in comparison to the loud chaos of the Bennet family and Lady Catherine’s fearsome scowls.This is a very minor drawback however and this is a brilliant adaptation of the novel as a fresh and inviting experience of the story.
This was a thoroughly enjoyable evening in an intimate theatre. This cast and production have brought Austen’s work to life extremely well and managed to make it their own which is a rather herculean feat within this modern era. If you enjoy Austen wit and whimsy and want a Bridgerton or My Lady Jane fix then I wholeheartedly recommend this adaptation to you.
★ ★ ★ ★
