REVIEW | Pride and Prejudice* (*sort of), Tour
★★★★★
Reviewer - STACY
From a fifty pence paperback to a prize-winning show, Pride and Prejudice* (*Sort of) pulls all the punches when entertainment is the order of the day. A show that found its roots in the heart of Glasgow, growing at lightning speed, with national tours and the West End in sight....a momentum that only lockdown could grind to a halt. I was extremely fortunate to be part of an audience when this show landed at Northern Stage back in 2019 and I was giddy with excitement when I knew it was set to hit the road again post covid.
Now, Pride and Prejudice is my all-time favourite novel, I have been an Austenite since Jane and I met during my G.C.S.E adventures, so this had big shoes to fill. But who's laughing now? This show is a sheer sensation. It's laugh out loud funny, from the word go, with a spectacle that makes Austen accessible for everyone.
The piece, written and co-directed by Isobel McArthur, takes Austen out of the classic archive, in a re-packaged format and delivers it to the masses with extreme success. It certainly has something for everybody with its modern nuances weaving their way through the narrative to comic effect and a faithful plot I think even Jane would approve of.
Now, this show doesn't wait for you....there's no holding back until you're sitting comfortably, the lights dim and the rustling of sweet wrappers begrudgingly come to a halt. No, this show takes off whether you're ready or not, with a cast of five servants cleaning the theatre and interacting with the audience as they bustle in to take their seats and before anyone is aware the show is underway. Smashing down the fourth wall with witty lines as the actors set the scene: Lucy Gray, Dannie Harris, Leah Jamieson, Emma Stonelake and Megan Louise Wilson frame the storyline by bringing Austen's servants out from the peripheral darkness and thrusting them head first into the spotlight, as the true heroes of any love story....fresh linen anyone?
Cue multi roles, multi accents, multi costume changes at lightning speed, impromptu karaoke bangers, thrashed out to hilarious effect on a mini boom box, from a strong female cast who have mastered their craft....and you have one stellar piece of theatre. The narrative was paced to pure perfection, with serious moments breaking up the side-splitting humour of the comical interludes. And comical it was indeed....I found myself holding onto my seat as I all out laughed with pure abandon, along with the rest of the audience, as the witty entertainment threw out joke after pun after parody....the joy was relentless.
Our strong female cast showcased their talents with acting, singing and dancing. But not happy to leave it there, they threw in musical instruments to go for the quadruple threat. Piano, guitar, saxophone, and accordion, to name but a few, found their way into the narration with exacting effect. It really was a masterclass in multi-skills with no weak link to be seen anywhere on the stage.
The plot will take you from Meryton, to Netherfield, London, to Rosings Park, Pemberley and back again in a whistle-stop tour, around the novel, that will leave you breathless. The set is simple, but used to great effect, to showcase the clever staging. The choreography, bursting out from the impromptu musical interludes, highlights the humour and wit of the piece perfectly. And the costumes pull everything together in all their plentiful glory.
I reviewed this show from the Upper Circle, Row D, Seat 3 in the Theatre Royal Newcastle. For £20 my ticket afforded me a good view of the stage. My only issue was any direction taking place downstage left. Here, I needed to get creative with my view and shift forward to see it slightly better. But for this price point, it was a small sacrifice to make.
Pride and Prejudice* (*Sort of) is pure perfection. This laugh-a-minute show will have you crying into your handbags in unadulterated joy and it earned every single standing ovation it received. So go on...go get yourself a ticket - Miss Austen would approve wholeheartedly.
Pride and Prejudice* (*sort of) is embarking on an exciting UK tour in 2023. Check it out in Coventry, Nottingham, Cardiff and more. Full tour information is available here.
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