REVIEW
✭✭✭✭✭ 5/5
Pride and Prejudice* (* Sort Of)
Chelmsford Theatre
Fairfield Rd
7 Oct – 12 Oct 24
An hilarious evening on a cold, wet night
✭✭✭✭✭ 5/5
Pride and Prejudice* (* Sort Of)
Chelmsford Theatre
Fairfield Rd
7 Oct – 12 Oct 24
An hilarious evening on a cold, wet night
It is a truth universally acknowledged that this production of the classic Pride and Prejudice is going to offend the purists. However, by the end they will be laughing as much as the audience. This sweary, re-enaction of Pride and Prejudice by writer Isobel McArthur, in which an all-female cast of five play all of the characters, is hilarious.
The play that started life as a commission for the writer by the Tron Theatre in Glasgow, ended as a triumph and award winning production in the West End.
It starts with the servants narrating the events and they quickly don costumes and act out the story. All the characters are there, Lizzie, Jane, Mrs Bennet, Wickham, Mr Collins, Charlotte and even Bingley and Darcy in some form or other. All played by the same five women. Mr Bennet is portrayed by a large chair that faces the wall and is just wheeled on and off with a mighty crash through the doors.
The story is there in essence, but liberties are taken with it. Mrs Bennet is a hysterical, asthmatic lush, knocking back the alcohol. Charlotte has the hots for Lizzie but settles for Mr Collins. Lizzie is the sarcastic one who lets rip with bad language. I'm not sure the Austen fans would warm to Collins being told to 'F' off, and Darcy to bugger off, but the audience loved it.
A large replica horse is wheeled on stage for Jane to ride to Netherfield, which she needs a ladder to climb on. Then she sets off accompanied by the banging of coconuts and blasts from an aerosol spray to enact rain.
Of course, there are in jokes. When Darcy appears at Pemberley, Lizzie is amazed that he is dry and there are suggestions that he go for a swim. A reference to the 1995 TV series and the wet shirt scene.
Pop songs accompany all the important scenes. Mr Darcy’s proposal has him sing I Think I Love You; the girls all romantically inclined give us a burst of Holding Out for a Hero. Even Lady Catherine de Bourgh, who descends the staircase in an enormous red creation, like Widow Twanky, informs Lizzie that she must sing a song written by her relative Christopher. Get it? So we are treated to Lady in Red. Wickham is a Smooth Operator and Lizzie sings You're So Vain on first meeting Darcy. Even poor Mary tries to get in on the act, but keeps being sent off. However, at the very end she manages to burst into Young Hearts Run Free. Microphones pop up out of odd places including a Pringles tin.
This is a very energetic show, with the five actresses playing different characters by donning a coat or dress and in Darcy’s case even pretending to be a portrait. They are constantly on the move, jumping into new characters, in and out of costumes, and playing musical instruments.
It is an irreverent take on the source material with double entendres galore and Balls taking on a new meaning. It is an ensemble piece where no one actress stands out. The team of Susie Barrett, Emma Rose Creaner, Rhianna McGreevy, Naomi Preston and Christine Steel are all on fire under the direction of Isobel McArthur, the writer herself.
If you want a fun night out with lots of laughs, head to the Chelmsford Theatre. The production continues until Saturday 12 October.
Review Jacquee Storozynski-Toll
The play that started life as a commission for the writer by the Tron Theatre in Glasgow, ended as a triumph and award winning production in the West End.
It starts with the servants narrating the events and they quickly don costumes and act out the story. All the characters are there, Lizzie, Jane, Mrs Bennet, Wickham, Mr Collins, Charlotte and even Bingley and Darcy in some form or other. All played by the same five women. Mr Bennet is portrayed by a large chair that faces the wall and is just wheeled on and off with a mighty crash through the doors.
The story is there in essence, but liberties are taken with it. Mrs Bennet is a hysterical, asthmatic lush, knocking back the alcohol. Charlotte has the hots for Lizzie but settles for Mr Collins. Lizzie is the sarcastic one who lets rip with bad language. I'm not sure the Austen fans would warm to Collins being told to 'F' off, and Darcy to bugger off, but the audience loved it.
A large replica horse is wheeled on stage for Jane to ride to Netherfield, which she needs a ladder to climb on. Then she sets off accompanied by the banging of coconuts and blasts from an aerosol spray to enact rain.
Of course, there are in jokes. When Darcy appears at Pemberley, Lizzie is amazed that he is dry and there are suggestions that he go for a swim. A reference to the 1995 TV series and the wet shirt scene.
Pop songs accompany all the important scenes. Mr Darcy’s proposal has him sing I Think I Love You; the girls all romantically inclined give us a burst of Holding Out for a Hero. Even Lady Catherine de Bourgh, who descends the staircase in an enormous red creation, like Widow Twanky, informs Lizzie that she must sing a song written by her relative Christopher. Get it? So we are treated to Lady in Red. Wickham is a Smooth Operator and Lizzie sings You're So Vain on first meeting Darcy. Even poor Mary tries to get in on the act, but keeps being sent off. However, at the very end she manages to burst into Young Hearts Run Free. Microphones pop up out of odd places including a Pringles tin.
This is a very energetic show, with the five actresses playing different characters by donning a coat or dress and in Darcy’s case even pretending to be a portrait. They are constantly on the move, jumping into new characters, in and out of costumes, and playing musical instruments.
It is an irreverent take on the source material with double entendres galore and Balls taking on a new meaning. It is an ensemble piece where no one actress stands out. The team of Susie Barrett, Emma Rose Creaner, Rhianna McGreevy, Naomi Preston and Christine Steel are all on fire under the direction of Isobel McArthur, the writer herself.
If you want a fun night out with lots of laughs, head to the Chelmsford Theatre. The production continues until Saturday 12 October.
Review Jacquee Storozynski-Toll
Tickets available from Chelmsford Theatre
https://www.chelmsfordtheatre.co.uk/book/?id=137201
Performances 7.30pm Mat Wednesday and Saturday 2,30pm
Tickets £10 - £36
All tickets are subject to a £2 booking fee
Booking Office 01245 606 505
The tour continues:-
WOLVERHAMPTON, Grand Theatre
Mon 14 Oct - Sat 19 Oct 2024
NOTTINGHAM, Theatre Royal
Mon 21 Oct - Sat 26 Oct 2024
SHREWSBURY, Theatre Severn
Tue 29 Oct - Sat 02 Nov 2024
YORK, Theatre Royal
Mon 04 Nov - Sat 09 Nov 2024
GUILDFORD, Yvonne Arnaud Theatre
Mon 11 Nov - Sat 16 Nov 2024
POOLE, Lighthouse
Mon 18 Nov - Sat 23 Nov 2024
SHEFFIELD, Lyceum Theatre
Tue 14 Jan - Sat 18 Jan 2025
MALVERN, Festival Theatre
Tue 21 Jan - Sat 25 Jan 2025
PLYMOUTH, Theatre Royal
Mon 27 Jan - Sat 01 Feb 2025
BIRMINGHAM, Birmingham Rep
Mon 03 Feb - Sat 08 Feb 2025
RICHMOND, Richmond Theatre
Mon 24 Feb - Sat 01 Mar 2025
GLASGOW, Theatre Royal
Mon 03 Mar - Sat 08 Mar 2025
OXFORD, Oxford Playhouse
Mon 10 Mar - Sat 15 Mar 2025
SALFORD, The Lowry
Tue 18 Mar - Sat 22 Mar 2025
BATH, Theatre Royal
ABERDEEN, His Majesty’s Theatre
CANTERBURY, The Marlowe Theatre
Tue 06 May - Sat 10 May 2025
LICHFIELD, Garrick Theatre
Tue 13 May - Sat 17 May 2025
LEEDS, The Grand Theatre
Mon 26 May - Sat 31 May 2025
SOUTHAMPTON, Mayflower Theatre
Tue 10 Jun - Sat 14 Jun 2025
https://www.chelmsfordtheatre.co.uk/book/?id=137201
Performances 7.30pm Mat Wednesday and Saturday 2,30pm
Tickets £10 - £36
All tickets are subject to a £2 booking fee
Booking Office 01245 606 505
The tour continues:-
WOLVERHAMPTON, Grand Theatre
Mon 14 Oct - Sat 19 Oct 2024
NOTTINGHAM, Theatre Royal
Mon 21 Oct - Sat 26 Oct 2024
SHREWSBURY, Theatre Severn
Tue 29 Oct - Sat 02 Nov 2024
YORK, Theatre Royal
Mon 04 Nov - Sat 09 Nov 2024
GUILDFORD, Yvonne Arnaud Theatre
Mon 11 Nov - Sat 16 Nov 2024
POOLE, Lighthouse
Mon 18 Nov - Sat 23 Nov 2024
SHEFFIELD, Lyceum Theatre
Tue 14 Jan - Sat 18 Jan 2025
MALVERN, Festival Theatre
Tue 21 Jan - Sat 25 Jan 2025
PLYMOUTH, Theatre Royal
Mon 27 Jan - Sat 01 Feb 2025
BIRMINGHAM, Birmingham Rep
Mon 03 Feb - Sat 08 Feb 2025
RICHMOND, Richmond Theatre
Mon 24 Feb - Sat 01 Mar 2025
GLASGOW, Theatre Royal
Mon 03 Mar - Sat 08 Mar 2025
OXFORD, Oxford Playhouse
Mon 10 Mar - Sat 15 Mar 2025
SALFORD, The Lowry
Tue 18 Mar - Sat 22 Mar 2025
BATH, Theatre Royal
ABERDEEN, His Majesty’s Theatre
CANTERBURY, The Marlowe Theatre
Tue 06 May - Sat 10 May 2025
LICHFIELD, Garrick Theatre
Tue 13 May - Sat 17 May 2025
LEEDS, The Grand Theatre
Mon 26 May - Sat 31 May 2025
SOUTHAMPTON, Mayflower Theatre
Tue 10 Jun - Sat 14 Jun 2025