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| Sisters from right to left, Lydia, Lizzy and Jane* |
"Pride and Prejudice" is a classic Jane Austen romantic novel that
most of us read at some point in our school history. Although
written in 1800’s it still remains a popular English novel and has been adapted into numerous plays, movies and
even a TV series. Pittsburgh Public Theater’s production of Pride and Prejudice by Kate Hamill is quite unconventional. This version managed
to keep a recognizable thread of the iconic story but injected exaggerated
humor akin to a Monty Python parody of this classic. If you are expecting the traditional
story then you might be disappointed with this “dramatic parody” but if you can
keep an open mind, you will get the best of both worlds- superb acting and fast
paced zany humor.
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| Opening dance * |
Reflection
The play opens with
symbolism as the eight person cast dressed in white seem joyous as they dance and play. Maybe they are interacting without societal labels, preconceived opinions of each other and pride or prejudices (or maybe I am over thinking it and the opening was just meant to be fun). It was different nonetheless.
The play is also performed
with the audience seated on all four sides. The actors weave though the
audience at various times during the play since part of the set is located among the audience. The rainbow of colors hanging from the theater chandeliers gave a clue that a whimsical show was going to follow.
The original Jane Austen story even without any adaptation had
many treads of humor. Four Bennet sisters seek a husband in order to keep the family from
being poverty stricken when Mr. Bennet passes. In the 1800’s girls could not inherit property.
The importance of marrying a wealthy man
in this English society superseded happiness
especially for Mrs. Bennet (Elena Alexandratos) who is obsessed with finding a
wealthy bachelor for her girls.
The girls each have distinctive personalities and these
personalities are exaggerated in this version. Jane (Ashley Bufkin) is the eldest and most
beautiful with an optimistic view of the world. Lizzy (Simone Recasner) is an intelligent independent women who is not interested in marriage. Mary (played by a man, Andrew William
Smith) is more interested in books and lectures then men
and the youngest, Lydia (Emma Mercier) is a 14 year old free spirited girl.
The play begins at a
ball where Jane meets and falls for playboy and wealthy Mr. Bingley (Andrew
William Smith’s duel role). His friend
Mr. Darcy (Ryan Garbayo) is one of the richest men in England and he thwarts Bingley’s connection with Jane because
she is not his societal equal. Jane’s heart
is broken but things turn around for her in the end.
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| Lizzy (Simone Recasner) and Mr Darcy (Ryan Garbayo) * |
Over the course of the play even though they both try to
resist, Mr. Darcy develops an interest in
Lizzy . Their interaction was the “drama part of the play”
and it was superbly acted by Garboyo and Recasner and by far my favorite part of
the action. Eventually Lizzy over comes her prejudices about Darcy and he overcomes
his pride which leads to their happily
ever after. There is more drama and comedy in-between before the play ends with an eighties dance party.
At first, maybe because I am a fan of the original story or because I
did not expect the injection of the zany comedy, I did not enjoy the changes to
my beloved story. If fact, it seemed at times a little over the top in an attempt
to be different. Although skillfully
done, there were women playing men, men
playing women and actors playing multiple
characters that caused humorous fast wardrobe changes. When both characters had
to be on the stage simultaneously, as a gag, the clothes of one of the
characters glided across the stage on a maniken.
There was continued audience laughter as Mary, pathetic and unattractive, was played by the same actor as Mr. Bingley (a 6 foot 4 inch tall
Andrew William Smith).
From the waves of laughter, many in the audience loved the levity of the play. My friend and I agreed
that our brains adapted to its madcap nature after the intermission and we began to laugh along with the others.
A kin to a parody (see Day 286-William Shakespeare's Long Lost Play ) Pride and Prejudice by Kate Hamill gives you some dramatic moments and a lot wacky humor. This is an enjoyable -“Dramatic Parody” if you can be open enough to accept this type of adaptation of Jane Austen’s novel and have fun with it!
A kin to a parody (see Day 286-William Shakespeare's Long Lost Play ) Pride and Prejudice by Kate Hamill gives you some dramatic moments and a lot wacky humor. This is an enjoyable -“Dramatic Parody” if you can be open enough to accept this type of adaptation of Jane Austen’s novel and have fun with it!
* Photos by Michael Henninger
(Pride and Prejudice runs from September 27 through October 28, 2018 at the O'Rielly Theater . For tickets go to ppt.org).
Spiritual Source
But he gives us more grace. That is why Scripture says: "God opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble" James 4;6