Pride and Prejudice for Heidelberg

Pride and Prejudice is often described as “the ultimate romantic comedy”, and with 2017 marking the bicentenary of Austen’s death, it is particularly fitting that HTC has chosen a recent (2009) stage adaptation by Simon Reade for its second play this year.

The story of Pride and Prejudice needs little introduction.  As Mrs Bennet reminds us in the play’s opening lines, “a single man, in possession of a good fortune, must be in want of a wife”, and when the eminently eligible Charles Bingley arrives in Meryton, bringing with him his haughty sister Caroline and his superior friend, Fitzwilliam Darcy, there is much excitement for the Bennet girls. Oldest sister Jane immediately draws Bingley’s attention, but Elizabeth is less impressed with the proud Mr Darcy. By play’s end, of course, marriages abound, but their achievement is not without obstacles.

Four sessions of auditions over two days brought over 100 applicants. The resulting cast features a number of familiar HTC faces: Aimee Sanderson, (A Streetcar Named Desire, Three Sisters) plays Elizabeth, with James Antonas (Moonlight and Magnolias, One Man, Two Guvnors) as Darcy; Claire Benne (VDL award-winner as Blanche in 2016’s Streetcar) returns as Caroline Bingley; Morgan Thomas-Connor (HTC Youth Theatre and 2015’s Three Sisters) is Kitty Bennet, while Dianne Mileo (2015’s Quartet) returns as choreographer and onstage as Lady Lucas. Experienced Melbourne performers Abi Richardson and Venetia Macken return to HTC to play Mrs Bennet and the aristocratic Lady Catherine de Bourgh. HTC welcomes a number of new faces to this play: Lee Threadgold as Mr Bennet; Claire Abagia, Madalyn McCandless and Courtney Crisfield complete the Bennet family as Jane, Mary and Lydia; Christien Dariol is the shifty Mr Wickham, with Tyson Legg as Charles Bingley; Jacob Pilkington plays the “odious” Mr Collins and Nicola Taylor his unfortunate wife, Charlotte. Lynne McGregor (Mrs Gardiner), David Fowles (Sir William Lucas and Mr Reynolds) and Louise Newton (Anne de Bourgh and Georgiana Darcy) complete the main cast while Andika Azhar, Nicholas Gioskos, Samuel Hughes and Paul Romas serve in an ensemble of soldiers and footmen.

In his first production with HTC, director Tim Scott has the support of Production Co-ordinator Maureen McInerney, Stage Manager Rebecca Bassett, Costume Designers Wendy Drowley and Cathy Christensen and Set Designer John Shelbourn. Sound and Lighting are in the hands of John Rowe and Deryk Hartwick; Bronwyn Parker is in charge of Props. Set Construction is under the direction of Owen Evans. Special mention must be made of veteran HTC craftsman Neville Wilkie who is building the fortepiano which features onstage.

Image: Rehearsal photo of Aimee Sanderson as Elizabeth & James Antonas as Darcy. Photographer:  David Belton

Pride and Prejudice

by Simon Reade

Directed by Tim Scott

28^th APRIL– 13^th MAY, 2017

Evenings at 8.00pm

Matinees:

Sundays 30^th Apr. & 7^th May & Saturday 13^h May at 2pm

Adults: $27 Concession, Senior’s Card Holders and Members $24

Group of 10+ - $22 per ticket.

Preview Night & First Wednesday Night

Special -Groups 50+ - $10 per ticket.

Tickets can be purchased online at www.htc.org.au or call the Box Office on 9457 4117.

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Community Theatre Seasons 2017