Birmingham Repertory Theatre – until 22nd April 2023
Reviewed by Emma Millward
5*****
“It is a truth universally acknowledged……” that all versions of Jane Austen’s literary classic Pride and Prejudice, whether on the stage, big screen or television, will always capture the imaginations of the public. This production is definitely no exception! From its first run at Glasgow’s Tron Theatre to an Olivier award winning run in the West End, the show has continued to pull in the crowds. Written and co-directed by Isobel McArthur, it takes the classic story and gives it a modern twist. All the characters, both male or female, are played by the small but powerful cast of five female actors. Lightning fast costume changes, set changes, karaoke (yes, you read that correctly!) and perfectly timed choreography keeps the story moving along.
As the show begins, we meet five female servants, all clad in white petticoat dresses, Doc Marten boots and carrying dusters. They swiftly move into the audience and start to clean surfaces and audience members (my unsuspecting boyfriend had his shoes polished!). The ladies then take to the stage and explain they are the often ignored characters in the story. The people who are in the background keeping the stately homes clean and helping their masters in their pursuit of love (and clean bed sheets!) What follows is a fast-paced and hilarious rendition of the classic story, which both manages to stay true to Jane Austin’s original story-line, but also turns it on its head. We get to see Moët and WKD Blue swigging Bennett sisters, vase vomiting and lots of colourful-expletive filled dialogue.
We meet the Bennett family, led by Mrs Bennett (played with wonderfully frenetic energy by Dannie Harris) and her five daughters. One of these daughters must marry into money before the death of their father, Mr Bennett (played here by a silent chair with its back to the audience, with only a newspaper visible) or they will lose their inheritance and home. The daughters are dispatched to try to find husbands. Jane Bennett (Megan Louise Wilson) meets the friendly Charles Bingley (Lucy Gray) and there is an instant attraction. The much more cautious Elizabeth Bennett (played with a loud and often raucous Welsh accent by the wonderful Emmy Stonelake) meets the aloof Mr Darcy (Dannie Harris again). He doesn’t impress her much and she shows this with a show-stopping rendition of Carly Simon’s ‘You’re So Vain’ dedicated to him. She comes to realise there is more to Fitzwilliam Darcy than meets the eye. Although along the way, she has to endure excruciatingly awkward proposals from Darcy and the rather dull Mr Collins (Leah Jamieson, complete with a monotonous voice that definitely made the audience chuckle).
There is not enough space here for me to write about all the stand-out moments of the show. From the amazing co-ordination/timing of the small, but perfectly formed cast, to the clever use of layered costumes over the petticoat dresses (a tailcoat for Mr Darcy was especially effective) to differentiate between the characters. The props throughout the show are cleverly used for comic effect, especially a photo frame that was definitely, for me, one of the funniest moments in the show . The cast also make use of lots of musical instruments, including a piano, saxophone and flute to add to the musical interludes, which varied from songs by Pulp, Elvis Costello and even Chris De Burgh!
Whether you are a die-hard Austen fan or not, with a generous helping of laughter, music, romance and microphones, this show has something for everyone!