Direct from the West End, Isobel McArthur’s Pride & Prejudice* (*sort of) is currently playing at Melbourne’s Atheneum Theatre until July 11, before heading to Sydney, Wollongong, Canberra and Brisbane.
More information and tickets via prideandprejudicesortof.com.au.
Based on the classic novel by Jane Austin, Pride & Prejudice* (*sort of) is about the Bennett family – Mr and Mrs Bennet and their five daughters: beauty Jane, feisty protagonist Elizabeth, bookish Mary, playful Kitty and flirtatious Lydia as they navigate the difficulties in attempting to secure a good future through marriage (as wealth is to be passed down to male heirs only).
The name itself is slightly misleading as the musical comedy does follow the story of Pride & Prejudice but is sort of modernised, sort of cheeky, sort of relatable and sort of faultless. The story is loosely told from the perspectives of the maids, although especially during the second act, this is dropped only to come back around at the end like, “oh yeah, I forgot about the maids.”
Definitely more of a play with music rather than a typical musical, Pride & Prejudice* (*sort of) is interspliced with some jukebox favourites such as Bonnie Tyler’s Holding Out For A Hero and Carly Simon’s You’re So Vain (sung with a bitter tongue by Elizabeth at Mr. Darcy).
I particularly liked Darcy’s awkward ode to Elizabeth with The Partridge Family’s I Think I Love You and it’s universally impossible not to love Young Hearts Run Free (by Candi Staton, covered by Kym Mazelle in Baz Luhrmann’s 1996 film Romeo + Juliet), sung so enthusiastically by Mary.
Five actors playing 20 roles is no easy feat and they make it look effortless (albeit a little chaotic) under the direction of Simon Harvey, who co-directed the West End production with McArthur, where it won the Olivier Award for ‘Best Comedy’. This show only works due to the strength of the talented cast who also change out costumes, sets and props. Basically, they do it all so mistakes will happen, but in a show like this, it only adds to the hilarity and the audience ate up every second.
Amy Lephamer is wonderful. Her performances as the plain Charlotte Lucas and the pompous Caroline Bingley are particularly strong, and I’m left wondering why she hasn’t done anything as overly comedic before.
My favourite character has always been the insufferable Mr. Collins and Ruby Shannon did him every bit of justice. She and Lephamer play the perfect pair as situational newlyweds, a stark contrast to Elizabeth (Teo Vergara) and Darcy (Zoe Ioannou). Kaori Maeda Judge as Lady Catherine De Bourgh is also a highlight, and difficult to miss in her elaborate costume design by Ana Ines Jabares-Pita which is as grand as the character’s ego herself.
If I were to nitpick, Jason Bovaird’s lighting is sometimes too harsh with faces being overexposed or washed out, especially atop of the staircase where a lot of the action takes place, as well as on the couch. However, his storm work and two effective jump scares were some of the best lighting I’ve seen.
Although female-centric by design, this show is one for the boys too. It somehow manages to poke fun at the absurdity of cheesy rom-coms and yet completely embrace the magic and wonder of it. It’s a woman’s story that celebrates the strong, independent and unique females in Austen’s novels, those who supported them, did the dirty work and saw/felt everything in between.
The show has already begun when the doors open as the maid’s go about the theatre scrubbing, wiping and buffing the walls and railings. It’s always a nice touch, with pre-show antics an increasing occurrence, notably in A Christmas Carol and The Lord of the Rings: A Musical Tale.
Lehpamer has compared it to Bridgeton, & Juliet and SIX The Musical, I’d throw in as being a more elevated version of Love Actually? The Musical Parody, with its in jokes and overall tone. It takes a lot to make me laugh but Pride & Prejudice* (*sort of) won me over from start to finish.
So, mount Willy and make your way to the theatre. The winter rain might ever work in your favour.
5/5 STARS
Images Supplied/Matthew Chen
TINSEL and TAP SHOES 