“She should hurry up and get him to the altar. She has the rest of her life to fall in love.” ~Jane Austen
CINCINNATI, Ohio — With theatres still closed to live performances, some are streaming videos of old favorites. This is the case in San Diego with Cygnet’s 2019 performance of Pride & Prejudice.
When I read Jane Austen’s Pride & Prejudice in college, the Napoleonic era romance novel was just not my cup of tea. But the unexpected quirks, cross-dressing and innuendos of Kate Hamill’s adaptation had me spraying that tea with laughter. Furniture pieces sail in and out for the many changes of scenery with framed photos of lavish estates to tell us where we are. Graceful gavottes morph into disco and a quick splash in the face indicates coming in from the rain.
Shana Wride is a hoot as the melodramatic, passive-aggressive Mrs. Bennett whose sole occupation is providing for her daughters’ futures by ensnaring them well-set husbands. She is balanced nicely by Adrian Alita who plays a dry Mr. Bennett and their friend/rival Charlotte.
Speaking with eloquent elocution, Kevin Hafso-Koppman still has that love-struck schoolboy giddiness as Mr. Bingley. Yet his eyes speak volumes as the homely, compulsively coughing Bennett sister, Mary. Jake Millgard is uncomfortably amusing as the catty vixen, Miss Bingley and is curiously loud as the vicar, Mr. Collins. We actually feel sorry for the woman who snares him and cannot, for fear of scandal, let him go.
Of course, the center of the tale is the tempestuous rom-com relationship of Lizzy and Darcy. Jacque Wilke is warm and witty as Lizzy. Not keen on her mother’s husband-snatching games, Lizzy would rather spend her life as a devoted, maiden aunt. Steven Lone maintains a cold, prickly veneer as the haughty Mr. Darcy, yet it is Lizzy’s rapier tongue that cuts the strings of his mask.
Michelle Trester made the strongest character transition from the giddy, naïve, knocked-up teenager, Lydia to the cold, calculating Lady Catherine. Although I think she could have done more to give the lady a layer of snarky humor. And Joy Yvonne Jones is lovely as Jane, but I know that she was made for stronger, more complex characters.
If you’ve ever felt trapped in a relationship and need a good laugh, you can enjoy the Cygnet Theatre’s Pride & Prejudice via this website.
And that’s Show Biz!
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Eric George Tauber, longtime drama reviewer in San Diego, has returned to his hometown of Cincinnati, Ohio, but stays in touch with the San Diego cultural scene via the Internet. He may be contacted via eric.tauber@sdjewishworld.com