Review: Pride and Prejudice, Wilton’s Music Hall

After 50 years of (unintentionally) avoiding anything created by Jane Austen, I was tempted by the opportunity to start with a modern, different take on her writing. Abigail Pickard Price and the Guildford Shakespeare Company’s adaptation of Pride & Prejudice, playing for two nights at the glorious Wilton’s Music Hall, turned out to be the perfect introduction.

Clever performances from just three actors (Luke Barton, Sarah Gobran and April Hughes) allows the Regency story of the Bennet sisters and their interfering mother, navigating their way to marital bliss through a selection of dashing, newly arrived cads, to unfold before our eyes. 

This is a beautifully choreographed performance. The simply presented stage, dressed suitably for the era by designer Neil Irish, is used fully throughout, and made to work impressively by the cast. A straightforward table and chairs are deftly adapted to suit each scene, with wonderful flowing movement. Changes into the 17 characters are signified using a different coloured bow in the hair and a matching belt, a range of hats, some spectacles and an ever-available change of clothes, often exchanged between the cast in the blink of an eye and placed ready for their next use. The changes are swift yet full; some I didn’t even notice happen, as movement around the stage distracted the audience, including occasional dance interludes to music of the era. Changes of location, without much alteration of the actual set, are made clear through the swift swapping of picture frames to show whichever country house we are in at the time. Hats off, quite literally, to Amy Lawrence for co-ordinating the flow of the piece. In the absence of a larger cast – which would be useful in certain segments – cheeky use of hats over the actors’ hands, to suggest they are accompanied by someone else, also works well, and at times they are even interacted with and acknowledged. It’s a very clever method of creating a presence without another human being there. The audience knew exactly what was going on and it added a certain dynamic and humour to the performance, which may have actually been lost with more actors.

The characters are brought to life by almost flawless performances from all three cast members. However, special mention should go to Barton for the ease with which he transitions from the stoic Mr Bennet to one of the Bennet sisters, to the dithering Mr Collins, to the rather aloof Mr Darcy, then on to the matriarchal Lady Catherine, topped off by the simple housekeeper of the Darcy residence. His comedy timing and ability to transform himself are a joy. 

The pace of the show is great, with the constant transformation of the cast and stage keeping things moving, although I must admit to feeling slightly jaded towards the interval, and judging from some twitching and shuffling, others in the audience were too. 

The finale needs a mention and a top tip if you are going to see the production is to wait around until the final, final curtain, where you will see all 17 characters make a re-appearance in their own special way.

All in all, this was a very enjoyable introduction to Jane Austen for me and will no doubt be a great re-visit and different interpretation for seasoned fans.

Directed by: Abigail Pickard Price
Set & Costume Design by: Neil Irish
Assistant Design & Costume Supervision by: Anett Black
Movement by: Amy Lawrence
Lighting by: Mark Dymock
Sound by: Matt Eaton

Pride and Prejudice has finished its run at Wilton’s Music Hall.