I’m sure you’ve had conversations along the lines of – If ‘Buddy Holly’ were alive, what we he have done. Or, if ‘Kurt Cobain’ hadn’t come to such a tragic end what would the shape of music be nowadays. Well, here’s the latest – if Jane Austen had been alive today, what would we she have made of PRIDE AND PREJUDICE* (*SORT OF) which is at the New Theatre in Cardiff this week. You know, I reckon she would have blooming loved it.
The story may be well over a century old but everything Jane wrote on those pages – her use of social commentary, realism and biting irony which earned her acclaim among critics and scholars has been lovingly, and irreverently brought bang up to date in this multi-award winning production.
Yes, we get the frocks, we most certainly get the romance but thrown into the mix of ISOBEL MCARTHUR’S ‘Pride and Prejudice* (*Sort Of)’ is a brilliantly funny, occasionally naughty version of Jane Austen’s timeless classic.
The audiences have been going wild for the show since it opened in Glasgow back in 2018 and the same can be said for last nights theatre goers in Cardiff. They told us what they thought about the performance…..
You may remember the original story has a lot of characters coming and going through the plot, but on stage we have five brilliant female actors dipping in and out of multiple roles, sometimes playing the men, but more often the women. Slightly reminiscent of the musical SIX (which is never a bad thing), the cast also burst into song passing the microphone around to show off their exceptional vocal skills.
The music is fantastic, and for me each and every one of the songs is a sing-along classic, and somehow fit the plot of the story brilliantly. There’s ‘I Got Your Babe‘, ‘You’re So Vain‘ ‘Young Hearts Run Free‘, ‘Will You Love Me Tomorrow‘ and more. Even as I’m telling mentioning the titles you can sort of imagine how they slot into the story. I told you, Jane Austen would have had a ball if she’d been around today.
I don’t want to spoil anything here but the show begins before it actually gets underway – the cast come from out of the audience dressed as maids, doing a bit of cleaning. From there we are straight into the show which is about as far from proper English Bridgerton as you can get. This is proper stuff, regional accents and all.
in fact, last night I was given a bit of a shoe shine by one of the cast (maids) thanks.
The cast are so good and equally funny, loud, sweary and down right brilliant. LEAH JAMIESON who made her West End debut in Pride and Prejudice* (*sort of) at the Criterion Theatre is Anne, Mary Bennet, Lydia Bennet and Mr Gardiner. LUCY GRAY reprises her role as Tillie, Charlotte Lucas, Charles Bingley and Miss Bingley. MEGAN LOUISE WILSON is Clara, Jane Bennet, and Lady Catherine de Burgh, DANNIE HARRIS is Flo, Mrs Bennet and Fitzwilliam Darcy.
This is where it may get a little confusing, RUTH BROTHERTON was outstanding in the role of Elizabeth Bennett last night, however, you may well get to see EMMY STONELAKE in this her regular role. Not only is she hilarious but she’s Welsh, and our Welsh at that. Emmy was born in Merthyr and grew up in Aberdare.
you can watch our interview with her HERE. This does of course mean that Elizabeth is also Welsh, and I’m sure all the better for it if you don’t mind me saying.
LAURA SOPER completes this fantastic line up of performers.
This is a cast who really earn their pennies on stage. They seriously don’t stop, jumping from character to character and song to song with comedic ease. This is definitely Austen 2.0 with non of your considered moments to ease you through the plot. From the get go you are launched into a Jane Austen world with a modern twist, but fear not, all the elements which make this story great are still there.
Of course I’m presuming you know the story, so let me sum it up in a nutshell…..
There are five very different sisters with a mother who is desperate to get them married, without marriage, there is no hope for a woman. The only way to do get a man is to make sure the girls are seen at a variety of ‘balls’ and in this production there are lots of balls – metaphorically speaking. Once the girls attend these balls they are dangled in front of a variety of possible suitors with the sole aim of bagging a bloke.
To get them ball ready, they need to be coached and Mrs Bennett does this with great skill, and with no help from her husband Mr Bennett, played brilliantly by a chair and newspaper – go see the show you’ll see what I mean.
I think my brief synopsis above gives you an idea as to what you can expect in this production. It is pun-tastically funny, with very clever use of simple, but highly effective props, including Irn-Bru, Wagon Wheels and a huge horse.
Pride & Prejudice& (*sort of) is definitely a that show pushes the boundaries of Miss Austen’s writing but I think the reason it works so well is that is completely faithful to the original book. Which makes me wonder who I can recommend it to – and the truth is, pretty much everyone. Well, let me add a few caveats to that. It is a little bit sweary, so just be aware of that, particularly Mrs Bennett who tells Elizabeth that no one likes a f*****g smartarse. Oh how I wish Jane Austen had written that in the original book.
I reckon if you’re a teacher then taking your class along would definitely do wonders for your street-cred. in fact the company say ‘this is the perfect production to show your students how exciting theatre can be and how an iconic novel such as Pride and Prejudice can be re-invented whilst remaining true to the spirit of the original…and be lots and lots of fun!’ And I agree, anything that delivers great works into the psyche of our young students has to be a good thing.
You can check out the Education page for the show HERE.
The show is everything you’d expect from its well deserved Olivier Award success last year where it won Best Comedy. It’s sharp, sassy and a little bit slapstick at times. Pride & Prejudice* is *sort of brilliant and will leave you smiling for the rest of the night. No drama in this show, it’s a 2 hour period of out and out fun and pleasure.
PRIDE & PREJUDICE* (*SORT OF) is at the New Theatre in Cardiff through to Saturday 25th March. Performances are at 7:30pm with a 2:30pm matinee on Wednesday and Saturday. For more details and to book tickets, go HERE.
