Pride and Prejudice
Jane Austen’s seminal work graces the Theatre Royal this week, adapted for the stage by Simon Reade. The ever-loved tale of manners, marriage and misunderstandings is done wonderful justice by the cast and the Regents Park Theatre team.
Humour often leads the performance, carried by hilarious contributions from Felicity Montagu as the enduringly fretful Mrs Bennet and Steven Meo as the obsequious and absurd Mr Collins. However, neither fall into caricature, a dangerous trap involved with the adaptation of such a popular story which is well avoided.
The performance also captures the subtleties of Pride and Prejudice well. The cold and steely Mr Darcy’s journey from contempt to companionship remains unexpected yet convincing. Former Stars in Their Eyes host Matthew Kelly also allows the intricate and at times conflicting elements which combine to form the character of Mr Bennet to pervade his performance.
The play ends as it began, with Mrs Bennet addressing the audience with those famous lines “It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good fortune, must be in want of a wife.” Whether the intervening events prove this to be true remains open to debate. What is clear though is that the attraction of Austen’s classic remains strong amongst the audience, solidified by this distinguished performance.
