Review: Adaptation of Pride and Prejudice proves to be a triumph

WHO didn’t have Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice as a set book at school, or see the film, or watch the BBC television version?

Fear not, all is not lost for the Henley Players came to your rescue last week with an excellent production of an adaptation (ably adapted by John Goodman).

For anyone who failed to get off the sofa and enjoy this live performance of Pride and Prejudice at the Kenton Theatre last week, you missed an outstanding production.

How could Jane Austen, with her very limited exposure to the world, have known so much so long ago? It was eventually published in 1813, more than 200 years ago, when Jane was only in her 30s. Long before the days of social media or Amazon.

Jenny Haywood’s period costumes lent much to the authenticity of this adaptation. Jenny also performed as the unfortunate, unattractive daughter, Mary Bennet, and did much to interest the audience with her regular appearances relating director John Goodman’s adaptation of a well-known story.

The stupidly twittering younger daughters, Kitty and Lydia (Dacey-Mae Martin and Amy Taulbut), showed how much input the director had in ensuring that there was always something to watch on the stage as well as listen to — a sure sign of a talented and able director.

His inspired direction of letter reading (by the writer as well as the reader) also lent atmosphere and energy to the production, as did the inspired use of backlighting and projected images which showed us, the audience, where we were and saved a huge amount of muddled, old-fashioned scene-shifting on an already crowded stage. Well done for that thought — a welcome addition to the repertoire of the Henley Players.

Caroline Hopkins (the aunt, Mrs Gardiner) performed admirably, to her credit, as a much older woman. Adam Wells gave a creditable performance as the much-misunderstood Mr Darcy but where oh where was the irresistible Colin Firth of other productions?

The prejudice of Lizzie Bennet (Jemima Pettifer) is shown for what it is when Mr Darcy’s pride finally allows him to let down his guard in the pursuit of happiness with her.

But plaudits for superb performances must surely go to Margie Barrass as the neurotic mother (Mrs Bennet) of five unwed daughters, a disaster in their circumstances and those times, and to Graham Weeks for his captivating and amusing performance of another unfortunate, the clergyman, Mr Collins.

Graham only had to appear on stage with his hand-wringing ways and his complete obsession with the grandee Lady Catherine de Bourgh (perfectly played by Claire Hewitt).

The director had clearly workshopped the text with the cast, as they all succeeded in drawing out whatever humour there was to be found. Margie truly held the stage from her very first appearance for she twittered around any young man she found suitable for, if not one daughter, then another. And she did bully poor Mr Bennet (Peter O’Sullivan), who could perhaps have benefited from making more of his few lines with their ascerbic wit.

All in all, this production was a triumph for the Henley Players whose next production — Gaslight by Patrick Hamilton — will be in October this year while John Goodman will direct Hamlet at Reading Abbey Ruins in July. Both productions promise to be unmissable.

The Henley Players performed Pride and Prejudice at The Kenton Theatre.