Regional Theater Review: PRIDE AND PREJUDICE (South Coast Rep in Orange County)

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by Kat Michels on September 24, 2011

in Theater-Regional

NOT YOUR MOTHER’S DARCY AND ELIZABETH

South Coast Repertory’s Pride and Prejudice, written for the stage by Joseph Hanreddy and J.R. Sullivan from Jane Austen’s masterpiece, brings out a side of this classic story that this reviewer has never seen (but always wanted to).

It seems that a Mr. Bingley (Brian Hostenske) lets a manor in Hertfordshire, and the arrival of this eligible gentleman sends all of the local women – especially those in the Bennett household – into a tizzy.  Surely such a well-set-up bachelor must be in need of a wife.

Pride and Prejudice, South Coast Rep, Joseph Hanreddy, J.R. Sullivan, Jane Austen, Dana Green, Corey Bill, Kyle DonnellyBingley takes a liking to the eldest Bennett daughter, Jane (Rebecca Lawrence), much to the chagrin of his sister Caroline (Amy Ellenberger) and his friend, Mr. Darcy, who  looks down upon the country folk and their ways.  But despite his prejudices, the proud Mr. Darcy develops an attraction for the second oldest Bennett daughter, Elizabeth, who seems to be equally prejudiced against him.

Pride and Prejudice, South Coast Rep, Joseph Hanreddy, J.R. Sullivan, Jane Austen, Dana Green, Corey Bill, Kyle DonnellyThough the first act fails to ignite –secondary characters come and go with seemingly little purpose but to lay down the foundation for the remainder of the play – the payoff is well worth it, as authors Hanreddy and Sullivan shine is in their development of our two main characters.  They have given Elizabeth a spunk that Dana Green delivers beautifully.  Oh, she still comes across as a proper Regency-era lady; but now her words have bite.  She actually refuses a dance with Darcy – a big no-no according to the etiquette of the day – and is downright snarky in some of her exchanges with him.  The authors paint Elizabeth as a feisty woman capable of matching Darcy barb for barb, snub for snub.  As Darcy, Corey Bill does a wonderful job suggesting a disdainful aloofness that masks the turbulent emotions whirling underneath.

Pride and Prejudice, South Coast Rep, Joseph Hanreddy, J.R. Sullivan, Jane Austen, Dana Green, Corey Bill, Kyle DonnellyEventually Elizabeth refuses Darcy’s proposal, but subsequently discovers she has behaved horribly toward a good man she should have respected. For his part, Darcy has hurt a woman he comes to discover he truly loves.

The second act is their redemption.  Darcy and Elizabeth realize the mistakes they’ve made, both make changes in their behavior, and they both fight to get back into society’s – and each other’s – good graces.  A more approachable couple than in Austen’s sere portrait, this Darcy and Elizabeth are flummoxed around each other. They stammer and have trouble speaking in complete sentences.  The butterflies in the stomachs of Green and Brill are practically visible. They are ooey gooey absolutely stupid in love with each other…and it’s fabulous!

Pride and Prejudice, South Coast Rep, Joseph Hanreddy, J.R. Sullivan, Jane Austen, Dana Green, Corey Bill, Kyle DonnellyThere is also quite a bit of welcomed comedy in this adaptation.  Jane Carr as Mrs. Bennett is somehow able to be obnoxious to all around her, yet endearing to those watching.  Carr lets us peek in on her thought processes, which makes her changes of heart and opinion obvious and laugh-out-loud funny.  Scott Drummond as Mr. Collins is larger than life and teeters on the verge of caricature; however, Drummond is able to inject enough nuance and sincerity into the character to make his outlandish physicalizations both compelling and funny.

Does this adaptation stay true to the often sardonic but reserved tone of the original?  No, but it is a viable take on a classic, enduring story. Still, in one respect, it apologizes too much when director Kyle Donnelly adds a character to the play in the person of a modern day teenager, played by Claire Kaplan, complete with spiky pink hair.  Pride and Prejudice, South Coast Rep, Joseph Hanreddy, J.R. Sullivan, Jane Austen, Dana Green, Corey Bill, Kyle DonnellyHer mother, driven to distraction by the child’s ghastly music, turns it off and hands her Austen’s book to read. In less than a minute, she transforms from a sullen teenager into a wide-eyed child utterly engrossed by the story unfolding around her.  It’s a lot to stomach and an example of the misplaced distrust some directors have of their audience’s sophistication. If the story’s good (which it is) and the actors are good (which they are), trust us; we’ll watch without the gimmicks.

kat @ stageandcinema.com

photos by Ben Horak/SCR and Henry DiRocco/SCR

Pride and Prejudice
South Coast Repertory in Costa Mesa
scheduled to end on October 9
for tickets, visit http://www.scr.org/

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