Review: Pride and Prejudice (Sort of) at LOWRY is ‘full of great performances, humour and heart’

Described as one of the original British Romantic Comedies, Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice takes to the Lowry stage like you’ve never seen it before!

As a spectacularly funny all female cast turn Austen’s work into a laugh out loud riot in Isobel MacArthur’s Pride and Prejudice (Sort of).

The play begins with an often-overlooked role in the many romances of the upper classes, the servants who see all and, in this play, reveal all.

Pride and Prejudice (Sort of) at LOWRY

The five servants expertly played by Emma Rose Creamer, Eleanor Kane, Rhianna McGreevy, Naomi Preston Low and Christine Steel highlight the plight of the servant class breaking the fourth wall as they do so.

They then proceed to act out Jane Austen’s novel while on their work break with the five women bringing the various characters to life in their own hilarious way.

The plot follows the Bennet household in Meryton around the turn of the 19th century, Mr and Mrs Bennet have five daughters and due to the laws at the time that forbids women to inherit any land or property, Mrs Bennet seeks to find a suitor for her daughters as soon as possible to secure her family’s future.

This leads to the Meryton Ball, where sisters, Jane and Eliza first meet Charles Bingley and Mr. Darcey.

Rather than a simple parody or a send up of Austen’s classic, the show deconstructs the era of the novel but faithfully stays true to the novel and retells it with a series of modern comedic twists that never fail to make the audience laugh.

Excellent choreography by Emily Jane Boyle

There’s solos, duets and ensemble songs and dances, (musical supervisor Michael John McCarthy and choreography by Emily Jane Boyle) included with a healthy mix of drinking, smoking and cursing to the audience’s delight.

The show also inventively mixes in some more modern props such as microphones (as a substitute for writing a letter), a replica horse and even a literal Jane Aust-bin dumpster that always add to the humour.

The show caters to both original fans of the book and films and new audiences alike, and offers something that all can enjoy.

Emma Rose Creamer is always excellent in each of her roles, from the demure Charlotte Lucas, the devious Lady Caroline and her brother the boisterous Charles Bingley, whatever role she plays she always delivers in a wonderfully fun filled performance.

A versatile performance by Rhianna McGreevy

Rhianna McGreevy displays her incredibly versatile acting ability with excellent portrayals of both Mrs. Bennet, the family matriarch whose desperate schemes to find a match for her daughters is always a comedic highlight, and follows that up with another great performance as the enigmatic and aloof Mr. Darcy.

Naomi Preston Low shines as the independent and rebellious Elizabeth Bennet, bringing a unique sharp wit and comedic timing to the role. Christine Steel plays a number of impressive roles from Elizabeth’s kind elder sister Jane, the charming soldier George Wickham, and the haughty Lady De Borough, Mr. Darcy’s aunt with disdain for anyone she deems below her class.

Eleanor Kane is a highlight from her many roles such as both younger Bennet sisters, the immature Lydia, the favourite of Mrs Bennet and Mary, who always seems to draw the ire of her mother and the outlandishly dull Mr. Collins.

Once the story begins, the pacing of the show flies by from scene to scene with quick and efficient transitions to keep the narrative flowing. The show’s run time is approximately 2 hours and 15 minutes, split into two well-paced acts with a short interval included.

All the cast get their time to shine and flex their comedic skills in many different roles as the play manages to mesh Austen’s Regency Britain with the servant’s own bawdy humour giving the show a down to earth feel that really works well with the plot of the novel.

The cast also display their impressive musical talent as the show fuses some fun classic pop numbers with renditions of Bonnie Tyler’s Holding Out for a Hero, and Lady in Red, (credited to Lady De Borough’s other nephew Christopher) and Young Hearts Run Free among many others.

Beautiful set design by Ana Inés Jabares-Pita

The costumes and set design (by Ana Inés Jabares-Pita) is a real highlight, the set is made to look like the inside of a 1800s style manor complete with staircase with small changes throughout the show to change location from Meryton to the Bingsley and Darcy estates.

While the costumes both manage to fit in with the Regency period but also makes it easy for the audience to define which character is on stage at any time.

Written and directed by Isobel MacArthur, with passion, romance, song and dance and laughs the whole way through, Pride and Prejudice (sort of) is a hilarious love letter to a literary classic filled with great performances and plenty of heart.

Tickets for Pride and Prejudice (sort of) at LOWRY

Pride and Prejudice (sort of) is showing now at the Lowry Theatre, tickets can be purchased here