Pride and Prejudice
Based on the novel by Jane Austen and adapted for the stage by Kirsty Budding. Directed by Kirsty Budding.. Composer, Arranger and Musician. Helen Way. Musician. Ella Ragless.Lead chorepgrapher. Naomi Casimir. Budding Theatre. Belconnen Theatre. June 18-22 2019
Reviewed by Peter Wilkins
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| The Bennet Family in Pride and Prejudice |
Kirsty Buddings production of Pride and Prejudice for Budding Theatre
is a labour of love. There is love in a faithfully scripted adaptation. There
is love in the enthusiastic performances of an energetic amateur cast of young
performers with more experienced adult actors. It is there in loving attention
to the period and to a tasteful design of four ivy bestrewn columns set
against a large sumptuously painted backdrop of an English garden scene. The
attention to detail in costuming, music and dance adds to the colour and
flavour of Budding’s depiction of Jane Austen’s Regency world. Love is also in
the response of a full house of delighted patrons. I assume that many were
family and friends and they delighted in the show.
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Ella Horton and Callum Wilson as
Elizabeth Bennet and Mr. Darcy
In Pride and Prejudice
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It is testament to the power of
Austen’s writing that her sparkling wit, gentle satire and insightful humanity
still captivates the hearts of readers
two centuries after her death. It is little wonder that a production such as
Budding’s staged with affection and appreciation of Austen’s depiction of
flawed and noble characters should still entertain and arouse identification
and empathy for the plight of Mr Bennet (Paul Gardiner), having to suffer the
embarrassment of Mrs. Bennet , deliciously played with effusive blustering by Tracy
Noble. Elizabeth Bennet in a performance
by Ella Horton which showed considerable promise and Mr. Darcy (Callum Wilson)
prove yet again that “the course of true love never did run smooth” and Jane
Austen’s humourous, yet affectionate ridicule of the clergy is well captured in
John Lombard’s comical portrayal of Mr. Collins.
Adaptation is not without
sacrifice to plot and character detail and it is commendable that Budding has
highlighted the significant scenes and plot lines, interspersed by stately
minuets and quadrilles to the beautiful accompaniment
of musical director Helen Way on piano and Ella Ragless on piano and flute. Austen’s
perspicacious glimpse of her era exposed status and class, romantic love and
the nefarious motives of the villainous Mr. Wickham (Daniel Evans). Evans’s
clever sleight of hand with his card trick could well have been a warning to
heed Wickham’s dastardly deeds.
The Regency Period, during which
Jane Austen published Pride and Prejudice
concerned itself with class distinction, epitomized by the snobbish and unpleasant
Lady Catherine de Bourgh,played with appropriate disdain by Joan White. Budding
Theatre’s affectionate adaptation of Pride and Prejudice observes the manner
and customs of the time.
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Caitlin Dalgliesh as Jane Bennet and Rob Shiells as
Mr. Bingley in Pride
and Prejudice
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All in all, this was a thoroughly
enjoyable amateur production of a well-loved classic romantic novel with the
attention to detail required, the wit and the wisdom of Austen and a joyful
sense of fun by the company of experienced and inexperienced performers. More
attention to vocal work would help to improve the effectiveness of certain
characterizations, as would more intensive workshops on performance technique
.Kirsty Budding continues to
provide valuable performance experience for young performers to improve their
performance skills and pursue their love of theatre in all its aspects. It’s an
added bonus when you can also entertain an audience so that the audience member
near me could loudly reply to her friend’s question about her response to the
production - “I loved it!”.