“It is a truth universally acknowledged…”

The iconic opening line of Jane Austen’s “Pride and Prejudice” is never fully uttered in this new stage adaptation by Ferron Delcy and Jesse McQueen. One of the many running jokes throughout the play, this Pride and Prejudice has everything you love about the original novel with a cheeky self-awareness that can only be achieved on stage. Directed by Wren Theatre’s fearless artistic director Tatum Lee, Pride and Prejudice will have you swooning, laughing, and sighing right along with the Bennet sisters.

For those of you not yet acquainted with the original work, I’ll do my best to give a quick summary without giving away the best parts! There are five Bennet sisters: Jane, Elizabeth, Mary, Lydia and Kitty. While they’re not the most wealthy in their country town, and they don’t have the best lineage, they have a joyous and comfortable life. All five girls are out in society and ready for the marriage market, so when a wealthy eligible bachelor comes to stay in the same little town for the summer, they’re immediately intrigued. Mr. Bingley, his horrible sister Caroline, and his best friend Mr. Darcy make quite the impression on the Bennet girls at their first encounter: Jane falls hopelessly in love with Bingley, while Elizabeth finds Mr. Darcy impossible to get along with. Although after months of attempted flirtation, misunderstandings, and misdirections, most of the Bennet sisters find their happy endings.

This modern adaptation of Austen’s text embraces the story and moments we all love from the original, while highlighting other aspects which are frequently overlooked or under-explained by Austen. The main love plots remain the same for Jane, Elizabeth, and Lydia (oh, poor Lydia). However, the characters who we would now look at as potentially queer coded like Mr. Collins or Mary Bennet get to fully explore the queer sides of themselves, while also being constrained by the societal norms for the period. This, and the occasionally well placed “fuck” in the dialogue, give Pride and Prejudice the feeling of being both of our time and Austen’s; there’s a distinct understanding of the rules of the day, and a very purposeful manipulation of those rules to create a unique world of its own.

On top of this, Delcy and McQueen, along with Lee’s masterful directing, have added in moments of self-awareness and sound queues which give the show a Mel Brooks style of absurd comedy. While I don’t want to say too much, because these are truly unique elements to this show and had me laughing harder than I’d expect to at Pride and Prejudice, I do need to commend the team on how artfully this was all done. Keep an eye out for interesting props, and be ready to laugh when you least expect it!

Pride and Prejudice boasts one of the largest casts assembled by Wren Theatre, bringing back familiar performers as well as new faces to the Randolph Theatre stage. Lizzie Moffatt and Devin Bell give stellar performances as the enemy-turned-lover archetypes Elizabeth Bennet and Mr. Darcy. Their dynamic on stage is electric in this production, and I truly enjoy watching the two of them work together. Lizette Mynhardt and Lucas Blakely have a similarly incredible chemistry as Jane and Mr. Bingley, but it’s a sweeter and more gentle love between the characters which the two performers play beautifully. Paige Madsen, Marissa Rasmussen, and Katelyn Doyle round out the Bennet sisters as Mary, Lydia, and Kitty respectively. I loved how rambunctious and vibrant these three are in particular. Jennifer McEwen is a perfectly boisterous Mrs. Bennet, while Daniel Christian Jones’ Mr. Bennet is as quiet and reserved as one would expect from a man constantly surrounded by six women. Jesse McQueen’s Caroline Bingley and Caleb Pauze’s Mr. Wickham reminded me instantaneously of why I despise those characters, in the best possible way, of course! Liam Cardinell’s Mr. Collins is a scene-stealer, with his over-affected mannerisms combined with one of the plays ongoing gags making him a laugh-a-minute. Karen Scobie’s Charlotte Lucas fits in so well with the delightful chaos of the Bennet household; it’s easy to see why Mary has such affection for her. Anne Shepherd is a stately Lady Catherine and Shepherd lends an air of sophistication to whatever role she takes on. Zaniq King’s Georgiana Darcy is a ray of sunshine in this production, and Darius Rathe’s Fitzwilliam likewise brings the fun in every scene he’s a part of.

This is an ambitious project for Wren Theatre, and I loved every minute of it. With a beautiful set designed by Lee and created by McWood Studios, and that huge cast adorned with Lee’s period costume design, Pride and Prejudice is certainly one for the books. Having studied the works of Jane Austen multiple times during my university days, this production reminded me of why I enjoyed those courses so much and how these stories work their way into the hearts of readers around the world. This edition of Pride and Prejudice brings light and laughter to one of Austen’s most beloved stories, and makes it a must-see event I hope will get re-staged again and again.

Pride and Prejudice runs at the Randolph Theatre until February 22. For more information and tickets, visit: https://www.wrentheatre.com/pride-and-prejudice

---

Cover Photo: The cast of Pride and Prejudice. Photo by Tatum Lee and Joy Campbell-Smith.

---

Thank you to my Patrons:

Natalia, Steve, Brendan, Deborah, Eleanor

And to my supporters who’ve bought me a coffee:

Angelica and Paul, Anonymous, Adrianna, Caitlin, Jonathan, Jada, and Courtney

Would you like to become a Patron? Check out my Patreon at: https://www.patreon.com/AViewfromtheBox

Or, you can buy me a coffee at: buymeacoffee.com/aviewfromthebox