Pride and Prejudice

Old Mill Theatre’s production of Pride and Prejudice sold out before the season opened, testament to the power of a good title and the reputation of the production team, but audiences might have been surprised by this Pride and Prejudice. While traditional in costuming and setting, this version is broad stroke, campy and firmly tongue in cheek, a loving tribute but written and directed with a decidedly modern eye.

A single elegant set designed by Ellis R. Kinnear and George Boyd is of the time and serves multiple locales. Regency era costumes, designed by Merri Ford, are both beautiful and striking and transport us back to the time of Jane Austen. 

Many of the actors play multiple roles and the quick changes made by performers are very impressive, especially Thomas Dimmick, cleverly doubling a puppy-like Mr Bingley and a rather frightening Mary Bennett, with great skill and exceptional comedic talent.

Lovely work from the other Bennett sisters. Madeleine Biddle gives us a clever and at times cutting Lizzie Bennett, in a nicely layered performance, while Georgia Goff brings subtlety and elegance to older sister Jane. Ellin Sears is delightful as 14-year-old Lydia Bennett, silly and impulsive and doubling as the formidable Lady Catherine De Bourgh. 

Sarah Thillagaratnam plays the two most extreme roles, the garrulous and pushy Mrs Bennett and the very strange (in this version) Anne De Bourgh. Matthew Lister charts an interesting journey as the hen-picked but eventually strong Mr Bennett. 

Mason Allen brings gravitas and reticence to Mr. Darcy, while Grace Edwards is superb in the very different roles of caddish Mr Wickham and snobbish Miss Bingley. Appropriately frustrating as Mr. Collins, Erin Craddock brings lovely perspective to Charlotte Lucas.

This is a production that has obvious love and respect for the original source but gifts us with a 2023 pastiche that cannot fail to draw laughs. The characters are extreme and over the top but played with real emotion, a combination that is hard to achieve, but excellent when it works.

I'd say run and get a ticket, but this sold out well in advance. It is well worth trying to see if a cancellation becomes available, as this show has a certain magic that is rarely seen.

Kimberley Shaw