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Aquila Theatre – Delight and Prejudice (The 2022-2023 U.S. Tour) is hilarious and a must-see manufacturing for any Jane Austen fan!
Think about a manufacturing of Delight and Prejudice that includes 6 actors – many who’re performing not two however generally three roles exceptionally properly. And with a contemporary twist, regardless of the faithfulness to Jane Austen’s unique story, that will make this a really satisfying manufacturing to take any fan of farce and satire.
The Solid of Aquila Theatre’s Delight and Prejudice
Main the 6 particular person solid is British actress Leda Douglas (she/her) as Elizabeth Bennet. She is a graduate of The Oxford Faculty of Drama (different well-known alumni embrace Claire Foy, Catherine McCormack, and Charity Wakefield) and has carried out on the Nationwide Theatre and SOHO Theatre in London’s West Finish. This proficient actress seems to take her cue from Keira Knightley’s 2005 tomboyish portrayal of Elizabeth Bennet. She virtually instantly from the start tosses her legs up on the desk within the Bennet reception room and never a lot later into the primary act she is seen working round and hitting a birdie whereas taking part in badminton with Elizabeth Belfast (Charlotte Lucas).
However it isn’t the selection she makes to painting Lizzie as a tomboy however slightly her sparkle and wit that captivates the viewers. Typically breaking the fourth wall, Leda’s Lizzie Bennet enjoys making apart remarks to the viewers whereas additionally taking delight and pleasure out of her scenes with co-stars akin to James Counihan (Mr. Collins) and James Lavender (Mrs. Bennet).
Within the main male position of Mr. Darcy is actor Conner Keef, who additionally performs the position of Mr. Bennet. Keef is a New York based mostly actor who has beforehand carried out with Aquila Theatre in Macbeth. Their potential to painting each characters so in another way is to be congratulated. They use a mixture of bodily appearing and a properly positioned wig to distinguish the 2 characters. Actually, they did such an excellent job with the portrayal of two drastically completely different characters got here as a shock to many viewers members on the finish of the present after I heard whispers round me of shock once they realized it was the identical actor.
Giving a riotous efficiency within the twin roles of Mrs. Bennet and Girl Catherine de Bourgh is the distinctive James Lavender who might need stolen the present each time he took to the stage. I can solely think about how hilarious his efficiency as Mrs. Jennings might need been in Aquila Theatre’s Sense and Sensibility. James is unquestionably a comic of the primary order! There have been so many occasions that James had the viewers laughing out loud and eager for an increasing number of stage time. I’m unsure if he’s a singer but when so, James must be the subsequent The D’Ysquith Household in A Gentleman’s Information to Love and Homicide!
James Counihan (official web site) is the third and ultimate actor within the tour taking part in to perfection the roles of Mary Bennet, Charles Bingley, Mr. Collins, and Mr. Wickham. From the second James sashayed onto the stage dressed as Mary Bennet, i knew this was going to be present. His comedic timing was first fee and he did a wonderful job of separating every position in order that when he was on stage in one of many numerous roles, you knew he was 100% dedicated to the position. With out ruining the present for you guys, it was his fast change between the roles of Mary, Bingley, and Wickham on the finish that had the viewers cackling with laughter.
Rounding out the solid are Katie Housley (Jane Bennet/Miss Bingley/Anne de Bourgh) and Elizabeth Belfast (Lydia Bennet/Charlotte Lucas/Georgiana Darcy). Main props to Elizabeth who appeared to have difficulties together with her microphone and but by no means as soon as did she break character or appear distracted. As an alternative she expertly plowed by means of with the efficiency as if nothing was amiss.
Katie Housley is a Canadian stage and display screen actress whose play, Midnight on a Monday, received the Playwrights Guild of Canada/Toronto Fringe Competition’s 24 hour playwriting contest earlier than receiving its world premiere at New York’s WorkShop Theatre as a part of the Midtown Worldwide Theatre Competition the place it went on to obtain a nomination for Finest Quick Topic. Very spectacular! And her performances reverse Conner Keef as a flirtatious Caroline Bingley and Anne de Bourgh had been hilarious!
Elizabeth Belfast will not be solely attractive but in addition sparkles as youngest sister, Lydia Bennet, in her chemistry with sisters Katie Housley, Leda Douglas, and James Counihan. The choice to have her play the “plain” Charlotte Lucas nonetheless was a shock since she may simply be thought of essentially the most stunning actress within the firm. She nonetheless did an excellent job making Charlotte her personal and giving her a sympathetic bent throughout Lizzie’s go to to Rosings.
What’s the Aquila Theatre?
As soon as once more Irvine Barclay Theatre led me to a wonderful theatre firm. Final yr I used to be thrilled to find Fellowship for the Performing Arts and this yr I’m now an official fan of Aquila Theatre due to their witty manufacturing of Jane Austen’s Delight and Prejudice.
Aquila Theatre is likely one of the foremost producers of classical theatre in america and has been bringing audiences world-class actors, fascinating designs, progressive variations, and impactful route since 1991. Aquila Theatre additionally gives in depth academic choices and is an award-winning chief within the discipline of public arts and humanities programming. Aquila Theatre’s mission is to create progressive interpretations of the classics for right now’s audiences. By diversifying the classics and increasing the canon, Aquila seeks to boost the plurality of our views.
Along with producing Delight and Prejudice through the 2022-2023 season, they’re additionally performing Julius Caesar with the identical solid throughout america.
Aquila Theatre 2022-2023 Tour Schedule
Delight and Prejudice Tour Dates
October 9 – McCallum Theatre, Palm Desert, California
October 14 – Sundown Cultural Heart, Carmel-by-the-Sea, California
October 18 – Gallo Heart for the Arts, Modesto, California
October 19 – The Heart for the Arts, Grass Valley, California
October 23 – Popejoy Corridor, Albuquerque, New Mexico
October 27 – Walton Arts Heart, Fayetteville, Arkansas
October 29 – The Grand 1894 Opera Home, Galveston, Texas
November 5 – Stephen B. Humphrey Theater, St. Joseph, Minnesota
November 10 – Loeb Playhouse (Stewart Heart), West Lafayette, Indiana
November 13 – EKU Heart for the Arts, Richmond, Kentucky
January 13 – Invoice Heard Theatre – River Heart for the Performing Arts, Columbus, Georgia
January 22 – Rinker Playhouse – Kravis Heart, West Palm Seaside, Florida
January 27 – College of GA – Performing Arts Heart, Athens, Georgia
February 3 – Diana Wortham Theatre, Asheville, North Carolina
February 12 – Manship Theatre, Baton Rouge, Louisiana
February 24 – Tulsa Performing Arts Heart, Tulsa, Oklahoma
February 25 – Leach Theater – Castleman Corridor, Rolla, Missouri
March 3 – DeBartolo Performing Arts Heart, Notre Dame, Indiana
March 7 – Clark State Performing Arts Heart, Springfield, Ohio
The touring solid can be performing in Julius Caesar too. For all dates and tickets go to the Aquila Theatre official web site.
The Julius Caesar Solid:
- Elizabeth Belfast (Calpurnia, Cinna, Octavius, Ensemble)
- James Counihan (Marc Anthony, Cimber, Clitus, Ensemble)
- Leda Douglas (Casca, Portia, Lucilius, Ensemble)
- Katie Housley (Brutus, Ensemble)
- Conner Keef (Caesar, Cicero, Cinna the Poet, Lepidus, Messala, Ensemble)
- James Lavender (Cassius, Artemidorus, Ensemble)
Future Reveals Coming to Irvine Barclay Theatre
All in favour of supporting the Irvine Barclay Theatre and attending to discover world class leisure? Go to my checklist of upcoming reveals for the 2022-2023 season.
Thanks once more to Irvine Barclay for the tickets to see Delight and Prejudice. All opinions are my very own.
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