New Stage Version Celebrates 200th Anniversary of Pride and Prejudice
Highlands Theatre Group (NSW) celebrates the 200th Anniversary of Jane Austen’s Pride And Prejudice in April with a new stage version of the book by playwright / director Jim Cheesley.
Back in 2011 the local Jane Austen Society approached the Highlands Theatre Group to see if they would be interested in performing Pride And Prejudice for the 200 year anniversary in 2013.
Whilst many people will remember the BBC miniseries there is no single definitive stage version the novel and with a story which takes place over so many settings: a number of private residences and rooms, towns, parks and country walks, there are inherent difficulties in trying to accommodate the play with limited space backstage to house a limited number of sets. Given these constraints Jim Cheesley said, “I had an idea to write it myself the way I wanted it done.
“The challenge was to keep as much of the story as it was written as I could,” keeping in mind the BBC version runs for almost 6 hours, “and where I had to condense the story, to bridge the scenes with dialogue that is true to the era.” After months of research and writing, he presented it to the committee and assorted members in 2012.
Jim said of the auditions in January, “Given it is such a well-known and well-loved book, there was a huge turnout at auditions which made it a long and arduous process but the result is a very high quality cast. We had a Jane Austen Society representative on the audition panel and they have continued to give their help and support with the show which is great because there no doubt will be some Pride And Prejudice fans in the audience!”
The group reports the show is taking shape nicely, having moved their rehearsals into the Mittagong Playhouse early in March in the run down to Opening Night on April 12th.
WHERE: Mittagong Playhouse, Bowral Road, Mittagong
WHEN: Apr 12, 13, 19, 20, 26, 27 at 8pm. Apr 14, 20, 21 and 27 at 2pm
TICKETS: $18 special - all tickets for opening night
$24 (adults), $20 (concession).
BOOKINGS: Book online at www.htg.org.au and click on the yellow ‘BOOK‘ button or contact Southern Highlands Tourism on 1300 657 559
Image: Steve Clancy and Ebony Hope.
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