Pride & Prejudice* (*sort of) throws Jane Austen’s beloved 200-year-old novel into a joyous theatrical blender, mixing Regency gowns with pop anthems, razor-sharp comedy and five stand-out performers. The result is a fast, funny night out that has audiences roaring with laughter.
Elizabeth & Darcy
One of the most beloved novels in the English language, Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice chronicles the spirited Elizabeth Bennet, the aloof Mr Darcy and the tangled web of love, class and social expectations that keeps them apart. Pride & Prejudice* (*sort of) remains true to the heart of Austen’s story but tells it through an entirely fresh lens.
Written by Scottish playwright Isobel Macarthur, the comedy imagines the tale from the perspective of the servants who would have quietly watched the Bennet family’s romantic dramas unfold while cleaning the house around them. The language has been thoroughly modernised, and while Austen purists may occasionally raise an eyebrow, the contemporary dialogue works remarkably well, landing plenty of laugh-out-loud moments and cheeky double entendres.
A West End hit
Director Simon Harvey, who co-directed the original West End production that won the 2022 Olivier Award for Best New Comedy, keeps the pace fizzing along. Traditional Regency-inspired costumes provide one foot in Austen’s world, while the other is spinning through an eclectic soundtrack featuring pop favourites like Girls Just Want to Have Fun, I Think I Love You and a roof-lifting rendition of Holding Out for a Hero.
The five-woman cast of Amy Lehpamer, Kaori Maeda-Judge, Ruby Shannon, Teo Vergara and Zoe Ioannou collectively portray around 20 characters, switching effortlessly between men and women, young and old, aristocrats and servants, often in the blink of an eye. Jennifer White deserves enormous credit for her superb dialect coaching, with the performers navigating a dizzying array of regional, upper, middle and lower-class – even Scottish accents with precision.
A great ensemble
All five actors are outstanding, but Amy Lehpamer is particularly unforgettable. Her gloriously imperious Caroline Bingley, delivered with magnificently withering disdain, drew roars of laughter every time she swept on stage, while her ability to inhabit four wildly different characters is matched only by her beautiful singing voice. A big hand too, to Ruby Shannon, making her professional debut with a confidence and stage presence that suggest a very bright future.
Whether you’re a lifelong Austen devotee or simply looking for a fun night at the theatre, Pride & Prejudice* (*sort of) is a clever, irreverent and entertaining spin on a literary classic. Austen fans, in particular, should give it a whirl.
Pride & Prejudice* (*sort of)
Until 30 August,
Sydney Opera House, Sydney
2-13 September
IMB Theatre, IPAC, Wollongong
16-27 September
Canberra Theatre, Canberra
30 September-11 October
Playhouse, QPQC, Brisbane
