Pride and Prejudice is a well known classic published by author Jane Austen in 1812. In 1906, the book was adapted into a script for the first time allowing theaters all over America to continue to share the story. The show follows the Bennett sisters as they navigate life, marriage, and social expectations. It touches on themes of pride and prejudice (who would’ve guessed) and how it affects the opinions and behaviors of the sisters and those around them. I experienced Walden Conservatories adaptation, starring Madeline Semones as Mary Bennet and Lincoln Chesman as Mr. Darcy.
The two acts and ended up running about two hours and 15 minutes. Although I thoroughly enjoyed the story and production, I found my focus slightly dwindling as the show came to its final scenes. However, the actors did a fantastic job remaining in every moment; I especially applaud them on their ability to retain the challenging dialogue while using a British accent. The actor Jessie Reiss is an excellent example of this, her accent was incredibly believable without pulling unnecessary focus.
Reiss portrayed Lydia Bennet as an immature and flirtatious sister, heavily entertained by the traditional ideals such as marriage and wealth. Her comedic vibrancy helped to bring up the energy of her peers, causing my eyes to naturally drift to her while on stage. The character’s liveliness perfectly contrasted Mary Bennet’s more introverted and subtle personality.
I strongly applaud Madeline Semones (Mary Bennet) for her honest yet subtle acting. There was never a moment where I felt that she was disconnected, even when her character was standing in the back simply observing. She was always tuned in no matter what.
Lincoln Chesman had a very similar styling to Madeline Semones, portraying Mr. Darcy as moody yet somehow charming in his mannerisms and line delivery. He provided a great amount of comedic energy, especially as the play progressed and more of his relationship with Jane Bennet (played by Kate Borthwick) unfurled.
Overall, I enjoyed this show, especially when the audience experienced an inside view of the sisters’ relationships and bonds. I would recommend reading the book or even a summary before seeing this production to help with following along in moments when diction/pace faltered.
Lastly, I would like to highlight the simple yet beautiful set; it didn’t remove focus from the action and helped immerse the audience within the story.
(Photo credit: StageOne Family Theatre Facebook page)
