Pride and Prejudice is an 1813 romantic novel of manners written by Jane Austen. It also provides the latest source material for Class Act as adapted by Claudia Haas. The show runs for two nights at the Parkway Theatre and as always, Class Act utilises two principal casts. Review Culture was present at the opening night performance and regretfully, will be unable to comment on the second cast. As in the novel, the play follows the story of Elizabeth Bennet as she learns a lesson about judging too quickly and too harshly, though succeeds in learning the error of such action and finds love along the way. It is a classic story filled with comedy and presents the habits, manners and actions of Regency era life in Britain.
This is a lush production with sumptuous costumes and utilises the 4k screen to project scenery to make the audience gasp. As director, Amada Pearce has done a great job bringing the production to the stage and giving a large number of her female students the chance to stretch themselves dramatically and to demonstrate crystal clipped elocution through the dialogue. The stage is "zoned" with furniture to denote specific locations but is essentially an open space for the large cast to employ throughout. A large tree sits down stage left and a writing desk and chairs stage right.
The play opens with Elizabeth Bennet (Izzy Hibbard) declaring "It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good fortune, must be in want of a wife" and this sets the scene for the entire story. Hibbard provides us with a spirited, feisty Elizabeth and it is clear to see why Mr Bennett feels she is perhaps a better bet as a potential wife than any of his five daughters. Elizabeth is never afraid to speak her mind and Hibbard personifies that forthright manner perfectly.
Her parents Mr and Mrs Bennet (Josh Watson and Poppy Webb-Jones) convey the manners and the anxiety brilliantly, with Watson exuding privilege, comfortable in his role and Webb-Jones at her wits' end trying to seek a suitable match for at least one of their five daughters. If just one of them can marry well then she may support the other family members on the eventual death of her husband. The play though, revolves around the importance of marrying for love, not simply for economic gain or social prestige, despite the communal pressure to make a good (i.e., wealthy) match.
Their other four daughters vary from the beauty (Jane) played by Tilly Burnett, to the bookish Mary (Jazz Hibbard) to the flighty, giggly youngest sisters, Kitty and Lydia played by Rubee Street and Imogen Taylor. Each has their own journey throughout and to have such good roles for so many young actresses is perfect for a company like Class Act.
There are many key roles in this show Lady Lucas and Charlotte Lucas played by Abby Reece and Ayla Jafri, with Reece also doubling as the hideously snobbish Lady Catherine de Bourgh in a wonderful cameo. As Miss Bingley, the sister of wealthy bachelor, Jade Priestley shows us the judgmental side of the character, often criticising the behaviour of others without considering her own behaviour.
The principal roles for the young men in the company are the highly eligible Mr Bingley played by Reece Stark, the soldier Mr Wickham, played by Will Smith and the cleric William Collins played with flourish by Charlie Walker.
The leading man, possibly highest among all leading men in classic literature, is Mr Darcy played by Charlie Henderson. Henderson provides a brooding heart throb, though Darcy's manners sometimes cause the audience to chuckle at his awkwardness throughout.
Other roles were played by Olivia Ornsby, Stephen Campbell, Emily Eastwood Jayden Henfrey, Izzy Forman, Eve Donovan and Matilda Fifield.
Andy Evans 26 April 2024.