Pride and Prejudice ★★★★★ Jermyn Street Theatre | Aug 19 - Sep 7, 2024


This delightful and respectful version of Jane Austen's masterpiece should please both devotees of the novel and those who enjoy clever and innovative theatre. It is nothing short of incredible that Austen's intricate courtship classic can be condensed into two hours and be successfully performed by only three actors, but that is what happens here. This is a small gem of a production which manages to maintain all the interwoven storylines of the original and to bring to life all of Austen's iconic characters. April Hughes' Elizabeth is nicely headstrong and willful, and Luke Barton's Darcy is suitably standoffish and condescending. They both successfully manage to convey the chemistry that brings the two together despite initial misgivings, as they deftly perform their assigned social roles. Barton does a simply splendid job of slipping into and out of the other characters who populate this rarefied world. He beautifully captures Mr Bennet's ironic detachment and Mr Collins' clumsy presumption. He gets it just right with his Lady Catherine de Bourgh who is condescending without ever falling into camp. The third member of this trio, Sarah Gobran, also plays multiple parts with admirable facility. While her Mrs Bennet sometimes struck us as a little too close to caricature, undermining Austen's exquisite irony, her Jane Bennet was fittingly sweet, and her Charlotte Lucas was dispassionately practical. Gobran's Caroline Bingley was archly ingratiating and her Mrs Gardiner was nicely understated. Full marks also to Abigail Pickard Price. Her direction was sprightly and intelligent as she captured the mating dance that typified a certain stratum of Regency society, and as an adaptor she managed to avoid putting her own gloss on the material. This is a production which allows us to hear Jane Austen's voice and to appreciate her genius, while we also admire a very talented and versatile cast.

Rated: ★★★★★

Reviewed by J.C.
Photo by Mark Dean

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When, Where, Getting there:
Map & Location: 16B Jermyn St, London SW1Y 6ST, UK

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