University of Connecticut's production of Jane Austen's "Pride and Prejudice" a dream come true
Kory Loucks
STORRS — Arguably one of the most beloved novels ever written, Jane Austen’s 19th-century masterpiece “Pride and Prejudice” makes its East Coast premier with this mostly faithful and thoroughly delightful play, adapted by Joseph Hanreddy and J.R. Sullivan and directed by Helene Kvale at the Connecticut Repertory Theatre.
For those who have had the pleasure of reading Auten’s novel or seeing the A&E miniseries, this play offers another avenue to savor this witty, iconic comedy of manners, which feels just as fresh and compelling as it must have when published in 1813.
Of course, the danger with bringing such a celebrated novel to the stage is that those who are devoted to Austen, myself included, cannot but help but compare and contrast it to the original, with the risk that it might end up woefully lacking.
Thankfully, this production, although containing some modifications of the novel, retains all the essentials of the story and much of the original dialogue, making it completely satisfying to this Austen devotee, and very likely creating some new converts along the way.
The story revolves around the Bennet family set in the early 1800s. There are five daughters and no sons, with the possibility that if one of them doesn’t make a financially advantageous marriage, they could all end up destitute, because the Bennet estate is entailed to a male era. Since there isn’t one, after Mr. Bennet’s death, the estate would go to his cousin, Mr. Collins.
Back in a time when women had no real viable means of support, securing a good marriage was the only way a woman could improve her lot.
Beyond the social realities of the time, though, this story has some of the most interesting, ridiculous, and admirable characters ever written, including the oleaginous Mr. Collins, played with simpering servility by Phil Korth, and the affable Mr. Bingley (a cheerful Brian Patrick Williams).
Mrs. Bingley and her much put-upon husband are played by the perfectly cast professional actors, the emotive Laurie Birmingham and the affable Roger Forbes.
Elizabeth Bennet, the headstrong, determined, and intelligent heroine is played by the excellent Alexandra Perlwitz.
The stoic and arrogant Mr. Darcy can be a tricky role, and I have seen it portrayed in some film adaptations as one-dimensional and stiff, but here, Kevin Coubal succeeds in making the character complex and human.
And he’s handsome too, “which a young man ought likewise to be if he possibly can,” to quote Elizabeth Bennet.
I also love how Mr. Wickham, played by the fine Ryan Guess, who seems so debonair and appealing at first, becomes fatuous as his real character becomes evident.
The numerous period costumes by Laura Crow are spot on, while the single set, by Travis George, is versatile — accommodating multiple scenes.
I resisted the screen projections at first, by Mark Novick, feeling that they are more a hindrance than helpful, but after a while, I came to appreciate them.
The English accents feel forced by some, but I much prefer the mostly successful attempts, rather than leaving them out altogether.
If at all possible, go see this glorious production of “Pride and Prejudice.”
Stage review
Pride and Prejudice
Four stars
Theater: Connecticut Repertory Theatre
Location: Nafe Katter Theater, 802 Bolton Road, Storrs.
Production: Adaptation by Joseph Hanreddy and J.R. Sullivan, based on the novel by Jane Austen. Directed by Helene Kvale. Scenic design by Travis George. Lighting design by David O. Smith. Costume design by Laura Crow. Sound design by Jack Nardi. Choreography by Christine Gambardella. Projection design by Mark Novick. Technical direction by John Parmelee.
Show times: Thursday at 7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday, 8 p.m.; Saturday and Sunday, 2 p.m. matinee; through March 6.
Tickets: $11 to $29. Call 860-486-4266 or visit their website at:
www.crt.uconn.edu
Actor.................CHARACTER
Alexandra Perlwitz .........… Elizabeth Bennet
Kevin Coubal ................................… Mr. Darcy
Laurie Birmingham …................. Mrs. Bennet
Roger Forbes .............................… Mr. Bennet
Alison Barton ..........................… Jane Bennet
Gretchen Goode. Lady Catherine de Bourgh
Brian Patrick Williams .............… Mr. Bingley
Christina Greer .................… Caroline Bingley
Hannah Kaplan .....................… Mary Bennet,
Anne de Bourgh
Phil Korth …..................................... Mr. Collins
Kelsea Baker ...........................… Lydia Bennet
Maggie Sulka …................. Catherine Bennet
Ryan Guess ............................… Mr. Wickham
Philip AJ Smithey …................... Mr. Gardiner
Brittany Green …...................... Mrs. Gardiner
Robert Thompson Jr. ….... Sir William Lucas
Laura Zabbo .............................… Lady Lucas,
Mrs. Reynolds
Tiffany Vinters ...................… Charlotte Lucas
Brooks Brantly …............. Colonel Fitzwilliam
James M.K. Turner .....................… Mr. Denny
Kate Mavis Zulauf ….......... Georgiana Darcy
Michelle Goodman .......................… Mrs. Hill
Thomas Dubinski ........................… Mr. Carter
Harrison Greene ….............................. Servant
STORRS — Arguably one of the most beloved novels ever written, Jane Austen’s 19th-century masterpiece “Pride and Prejudice” makes its East Coast premier with this mostly faithful and thoroughly delightful play, adapted by Joseph Hanreddy and J.R. Sullivan and directed by Helene Kvale at the Connecticut Repertory Theatre.
For those who have had the pleasure of reading Auten’s novel or seeing the A&E miniseries, this play offers another avenue to savor this witty, iconic comedy of manners, which feels just as fresh and compelling as it must have when published in 1813.
Of course, the danger with bringing such a celebrated novel to the stage is that those who are devoted to Austen, myself included, cannot but help but compare and contrast it to the original, with the risk that it might end up woefully lacking.
Thankfully, this production, although containing some modifications of the novel, retains all the essentials of the story and much of the original dialogue, making it completely satisfying to this Austen devotee, and very likely creating some new converts along the way.
The story revolves around the Bennet family set in the early 1800s. There are five daughters and no sons, with the possibility that if one of them doesn’t make a financially advantageous marriage, they could all end up destitute, because the Bennet estate is entailed to a male era. Since there isn’t one, after Mr. Bennet’s death, the estate would go to his cousin, Mr. Collins.
Back in a time when women had no real viable means of support, securing a good marriage was the only way a woman could improve her lot.
Beyond the social realities of the time, though, this story has some of the most interesting, ridiculous, and admirable characters ever written, including the oleaginous Mr. Collins, played with simpering servility by Phil Korth, and the affable Mr. Bingley (a cheerful Brian Patrick Williams).
Mrs. Bingley and her much put-upon husband are played by the perfectly cast professional actors, the emotive Laurie Birmingham and the affable Roger Forbes.
Elizabeth Bennet, the headstrong, determined, and intelligent heroine is played by the excellent Alexandra Perlwitz.
The stoic and arrogant Mr. Darcy can be a tricky role, and I have seen it portrayed in some film adaptations as one-dimensional and stiff, but here, Kevin Coubal succeeds in making the character complex and human.
And he’s handsome too, “which a young man ought likewise to be if he possibly can,” to quote Elizabeth Bennet.
I also love how Mr. Wickham, played by the fine Ryan Guess, who seems so debonair and appealing at first, becomes fatuous as his real character becomes evident.
The numerous period costumes by Laura Crow are spot on, while the single set, by Travis George, is versatile — accommodating multiple scenes.
I resisted the screen projections at first, by Mark Novick, feeling that they are more a hindrance than helpful, but after a while, I came to appreciate them.
The English accents feel forced by some, but I much prefer the mostly successful attempts, rather than leaving them out altogether.
If at all possible, go see this glorious production of “Pride and Prejudice.”
Stage review
Pride and Prejudice
Four stars
Theater: Connecticut Repertory Theatre
Location: Nafe Katter Theater, 802 Bolton Road, Storrs.
Production: Adaptation by Joseph Hanreddy and J.R. Sullivan, based on the novel by Jane Austen. Directed by Helene Kvale. Scenic design by Travis George. Lighting design by David O. Smith. Costume design by Laura Crow. Sound design by Jack Nardi. Choreography by Christine Gambardella. Projection design by Mark Novick. Technical direction by John Parmelee.
Show times: Thursday at 7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday, 8 p.m.; Saturday and Sunday, 2 p.m. matinee; through March 6.
Tickets: $11 to $29. Call 860-486-4266 or visit their website at:
www.crt.uconn.edu
Actor.................CHARACTER
Alexandra Perlwitz .........… Elizabeth Bennet
Kevin Coubal ................................… Mr. Darcy
Laurie Birmingham …................. Mrs. Bennet
Roger Forbes .............................… Mr. Bennet
Alison Barton ..........................… Jane Bennet
Gretchen Goode. Lady Catherine de Bourgh
Brian Patrick Williams .............… Mr. Bingley
Christina Greer .................… Caroline Bingley
Hannah Kaplan .....................… Mary Bennet,
Anne de Bourgh
Phil Korth …..................................... Mr. Collins
Kelsea Baker ...........................… Lydia Bennet
Maggie Sulka …................. Catherine Bennet
Ryan Guess ............................… Mr. Wickham
Philip AJ Smithey …................... Mr. Gardiner
Brittany Green …...................... Mrs. Gardiner
Robert Thompson Jr. ….... Sir William Lucas
Laura Zabbo .............................… Lady Lucas,
Mrs. Reynolds
Tiffany Vinters ...................… Charlotte Lucas
Brooks Brantly …............. Colonel Fitzwilliam
James M.K. Turner .....................… Mr. Denny
Kate Mavis Zulauf ….......... Georgiana Darcy
Michelle Goodman .......................… Mrs. Hill
Thomas Dubinski ........................… Mr. Carter
Harrison Greene ….............................. Servant
Photo information: Alexandra Perlwitz as Elizabeth Bennet and Kevin Coubal as Mr. Darcy in Connecticut Repertory Theatre’s production of Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice playing in the Nafe Katter Theatre, Storrs, Feb. 24 – March 6. For tickets and information call 860-486-4226 or visit www.crt.uconn.edu. Photo by Bob Copley, Jr.
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