THOSE lucky enough to get their hands on tickets for Pride and Prejudice* (*sort of) at the Theatre Royal in Bath are in for a real treat.
This infectious and gloriously witty award-winning West End comedy gem tours to Bath for the first time and is only there for a few more days.
Pride and Prejudice* (*sort of) is Isobel McArthur’s audacious retelling of Jane Austen’s most iconic love story and is quite possibly the funniest play I’m likely to see this year.
Following its triumph in London’s West End, where it won the 2022 Laurence Olivier Award for Best Comedy and garnered a host of five-star reviews it’s now visiting Bath until Saturday, February 4.
The show pays affectionate but irreverent homage to Austen’s original while featuring a string of modern pop music classics sung by the actor-musicians.
They include Candi Staton’s Young Hearts Run Free, Gerry Goffin and Carole King’s Will You Love Me Tomorrow and Carly Simon’s famous 1972 hit You’re So Vain.
The seven strong cast for the 2023 tour play multiple roles in the show and are simply outstanding. They start out in hilarious fashion by playing the servants at the Bennet family home at Longbourn.
The West End cast of Pride and Prejudice* (*sort of). Photo: Matt Crockett (Image: Matt Crockett)
They include Leah Jamieson as Anne, Mary Bennet, Lydia Bennet and Mr Gardiner, and Lucy Gray, who reprises her role as Tillie, Charlotte Lucas, Charles Bingley and Miss Bingley.
Emmy Stonelake appears as Effie and Elizabeth Bennet; Megan Louise Wilson plays Clara, Jane Bennet and Lady Catherine de Bourgh; and Dannie Harris appears as Flo, Mrs Bennet and Fitzwilliam Darcy.
The hugely talented company is completed by Laura Soper and Ruth Brotherton. Mr Bennet is never seen but is brilliantly depicted reading a newspaper in a chair with its back to the audience.
Pride and Prejudice* (*sort of) is written by Isobel McArthur who co-directs with Simon Harvey. The staging by Jos Houben with design by Ana Inés Jabares-Pita and lighting by Colin Grenfell is enormously simple and effective.
Musical supervision by Michael John McCarthy cleverly blends Austen angst with the pop classics, while mention should be made of the sound design by Michael John McCarthy and Luke Swaffield for Autograph and choreography by Emily Jane Boyle.
This exciting production never fails to entertain from beginning to end. The cast thoroughly deserved their standing ovation.
For tickets contact the Theatre Royal Bath Box Office on 01225 448844 or book online at www.theatreroyal.org.uk
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here