I lastly get round to seeing – and being extremely entertained by – Pride and Prejudice (*form of) at Richmond Theatre and touring the UK
“Servants are integral to love stories”
I couldn’t inform you for why however I used to be certain I wouldn’t like Pride and Prejudice (*form of) so I didn’t catch it within the West End in 2021 or on its ensuing tour. Third time is outwardly the appeal although and on catching this Olivier Award-winning (for Best Entertainment or Comedy Play) at Richmond Theatre as a part of a brand new tour of the UK, I did discover myself excessively diverted.
Written by Isobel McArthur after Jane Austen, the present is an entertainingly light-hearted riff on the traditional novel, carried out by the servants of Longbourn, Netherfield Park, Pemberley and so forth, dressing up as their lords and masters to play out their romantic shenanigans and unafraid to carry out the karaoke machine to pep up their storytelling with belted out 80s pop songs.
As a framing machine, it’s simply one other means into the acquainted somewhat than offering a contemporary new take, as McArthur – who additionally directs right here – is way more keen on increase some substantial bodily comedy across the sweeping staircase that dominates Ana Inés Jabares-Pita’s environment friendly touring set. From Pringle tubes to the horse using, portrait tomfoolery to the letter studying gag which remains to be making me chuckle as I write this, it is a genuinely snort out loud present. Mr Bennett in his chair too!
Throw in any variety of references good for this baby of the 80s (Viennetta! Ferrero Rocher!) plus track selections that dig somewhat deeper than your regular playlist – there’s Bonnie Tyler however Voice of the Beehive too, a stunning little bit of Pulp and Elvis Costello alongside Carly Simon and Carole King. A even handed quantity of extremely amusing anachronistic swearing can be brilliantly achieved. It’s all such good enjoyable.
McArthur has critical factors to make too, establishing her all-female ensemble right here. As entertaining as Emma Rose Creaner, Eleanor Kane, Rhianna McGreevy, Naomi Preston Low and Christine Steel are at multi-roling their means by any variety of characters, there’s additionally time for emotion – real romance effervescent up by the silliness, annoyed lesbian longings including somewhat piquancy. How great that I lastly received the possibility to rectify my unique reticence; seize the possibility too in the event you haven’t already.