Dragon Review: Pride & Prejudice* (*sort of), Yvonne Arnaud Theatre

Published on: 14 Nov, 2024
Updated on: 14 Nov, 2024

The five-woman cast of Pride & Prejudice

By Ferenc Hepp

Direct from the West End and now on a national tour, Pride & Prejudice* (*sort of) is on at the Yvonne Arnaud Theatre this week.

This is very much an ensemble piece. The company of five performers are selected from Susie Barrett, Emma Rose Creaner, Rhianna McGreevy, Naomi Preston Low, Christine Steel, Isobel Donkin, Georgia May Firth and Harriet Sanderson. Pride & Prejudice by Jane Austen, a classic of English literature, centres on the burgeoning relationship between Elizabeth Bennet, the daughter of a country gentleman, and Fitzwilliam Darcy, a rich aristocratic landowner.

However, this adaptation is anything but a classic play. The cast of five women narrate, perform, take on all the characters, sing numbers such as ‘You’re So Vain’ and ‘Holding Out for a Hero’, and play some instruments to present a very different version of the plot.

There are quick costume changes and highly energetic and fast paced scenes with plenty of pantomime and farce type humour.

The set is reasonably simple, with a staircase, couch, piano and a large painted bookshelf, all in pastel colours. We meet the five women straightaway, who start off as household workers and we are told that “servants are integral to love stories”.

They tell the story by breaking the fourth wall and interacting with the audience, as well as presenting the narrative as the sisters and other characters.

There are quick costume changes, and highly energetic and fast paced scenes with plenty of pantomime and farce type humour. The comic timing and distinct characterisations from every member of the cast is highly admirable, and causes much hilarity from the audience, which was made up of all ages, from school children to those more or very senior.

There’s plenty of pantomime and farce type humour

The characters are introduced as each of them enters for the first time; the sisters all being portrayed with their unique characteristics. Mr Darcy and Mr Collins are particular highlights, causing plenty of laugh out loud moments.

But it is not even just the actors causing such amusement; ‘Mr Bennet’ is regularly wheeled out; however, we only see the back of an armchair and a suggestion of a newspaper in his hand.

There is also a large wheelie bin called Jane Aust-bin (for glass, plastic and the novels of Sir Walter Scott) which steals the show at one point. The fast pace takes a slight pause towards the middle of the second act; however, we get it back at the conclusion of the show when the original servants are back, wrapping up the story of all the sisters and their fate in love.

The writer’s intention was to “celebrate romance for its own sake by drawing unashamedly on many of the associated tropes, sweeping scores, pathetic fallacy, sighs, swoons, and all that thrilling electricity of new love.”

She undoubtedly achieved this, and hopefully the younger members of the audience will also be inspired to read the real thing and enrich their interest in classic literature.

This unique Newcastle Theatre Royal Olivier Award winning production of the Jane Austen classic is written and directed by Isobel McArthur, designed by Ana Inés Jabares-Pita and comedy staging is by Jos Houben and presented by David Pugh and Cunard.

Pride & Prejudice* (*sort of) runs until Saturday 16 November and tickets are available via
www.yvonne-arnaud.co.uk or 01483 440000