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★★★★★
Isobel McArthur’s Olivier Award-winning comedy ‘Pride and Prejudice* (*sort of)’ is currently touring the UK and this week it has arrived in Kent for 7 performances. Moving into the Marlowe Theatre in Canterbury for 5 days, the play infuses Jane Austen’s classic romance with well known pop songs and takes the material to hilarious heights. The retelling is set in the early 1800s and told from the perspective of a group of five servants, who each take a turn at playing multiple characters from the story. However, there are lots of modern influences in this version, from the unfiltered language to present day props on stage, which create an intriguing blend of new meets old. McArthur’s writing cleverly uses humour as a way to make Austen’s work more accessible to a present day audience, whilst at the same time retaining the spirit of the classic work. You definitely don’t need to have read the book or watched the TV/film adaptations to appreciate this show, which takes all of the popular characters and reinterprets them in the most amusing way.
A masterclass in multi-role performance
Telling the story from the servants’ point of view highlights the differences between the gentry and everyday people of the time period and consequently, the interpretations of characters are exaggerated for comedy value. This is amplified by the use of multi-role performance; with each actor playing several contrasting characters. Standout performances are Rhianna McGreevy as Mr. Darcy/Mrs Bennet and Christine Steel as Jane Bennet/George Wickham/Lady Catherine de Bourgh. Both performers have such differing personalities to take on, and to switch between them in an instance (on and off-stage) is nothing short of impressive. Furthermore, Rhianna’s Darcy is so aloof and awkward, that you can’t help but laugh any time they are on stage. The actor has really mastered Darcy’s persona.
Evolving set design
Whilst Ana Inés Jabares-Pita’s core set is mostly static, the constantly changing backdrops and lighting effects transform the space into the various estates of Austen’s book. From the yellow pastel shades of Longbourn to the red hues of ‘Lady in Red’ Lady Catherine de Bourgh’s Rosings Park, the atmospheric changes and rotating set pieces convincingly highlight the many changes of location. 21st-century items meet regency charm and novel set pieces include a pop-up bar (complete with Irn-Bru and red beer pong cups), a karaoke machine and a Jane Aust-bin to name but a few.
A laugh-out-loud triumph
The fast-paced physical comedy, tongue in cheek humour and extremely comical performances all contribute to ‘Pride and Prejudice* (*sort of)’ being a roaring success. Whether you are a fan of Jane Austen or not, you will absolutely appreciate the talent of this 5-strong cast, who pull off the unimaginable, taking audiences through the whole of ‘Pride and Prejudice’ in just over 2 hours of theatre. The show is at the Marlowe Theatre until Saturday 10th May, with last minute tickets available via the theatre’s website.
Thanks for reading my blog today.
Love Kat xxxx
*My ticket for ‘Pride and Prejudice* (*sort of)’ was gifted in exchange for an unbiased review.
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