Plied and Prejudice

This irreverent, funny and frenetic version of Pride and Prejudice features five actors playing more than twenty-five characters in a 90-minute party of a play that might make your Year 12 English teacher faint. Playing cabaret style Downstairs at the Maj, the audience and one cast member are invited to get sozzled, and audience get involved in a raucous and wild journey back to 1800s Pemberley.

With actors wildly running to change costume, language and a few concepts that might make Jane Austen and her contemporaries blush, this obviously is not for everyone (it is strictly 18 +) for a start, but for those willing to not take their Austen seriously, this is an absolute hoot.

Dressed in costumes that suggest paper-dolls or comic books, the five actors (aided by both swing performers as stage crew and support) squeeze the story into 90 minutes. 

On opening night, Ayesha Gibson, playing Elizabeth Bennett, drew the short straw and was required to down quite a few tequilas, topping up every time someone suggested a cup of tea. Despite the extra challenges she performed superbly, as well as partly narrating and keeping the audience in check.

Younger sister Jane was played by Lucy Goodrick, switching smoothly from the delightful Jane to a snobbish Caroline Bingley, while Jess Lally was wonderfully erratic as Mrs. Bennet, switching with aplomb to the imperious and stranger than you remember Lady Catherine de Burgh.

Rp van der Westhuizen plays a plethora of roles from a disturbingly serpentine and extremely off-putting Mr. Collins, to a puppy-like Bingley and a handsome and caddish Mr. Wickham. Dashing across the stage, with speed he also portrays elderly (and ultimately heroic) Mr. Bennet and a beautifully bonneted Mrs. Gardiner.

Patrick Gandin completes the cast as a forthright Mr. Darcy (the show includes the wet linen shirt moment), also simultaneously playing Kittle, Lydia and Mary.

Apart from singing the praises of the actors, I’m reluctant to reveal too many secrets about this show, except to say expect the unexpected and to warn that this is very, very naughty.

A great way to see the work of Jane Austen in a new light.

Kimberley Shaw