Pride and Prejudice

A wind-blown new year starts at The Old Fitz, Sydney’s excellent pub theatre, with this American adaptation, by Kate Hamill, of Jane Austen’s magical 1813 novel, directed by New Yorker Emma Canalese. It’s wonderful to know that the notes struck by this terrific tale of family love and caring still ring true after 212 years.

Not that this boisterous version of the mighty text would have made much sense back in 1813. Its doubling/tripling of male/female roles and its bizarre cross-dressing of important characters might have labelled it ‘prejudicial’. Today, it’s all part of the fun.

Austen’s comedy of manners is one of the most popular novels of all time and features the civilised sparring between proud Mr. Darcy and prejudiced Elizabeth Bennet as they play out their spirited courtship is a series of 18^th century drawing room intrigues.

I’m delighted to say that these two major characters are here played by two young people – Abbey Morgan and Idam Sondhi – obviously in full and total control of their sexuality. The future of the Bennet family is assured: in fact, Ms Morgan holds the family (and the show) together in a blaze of good sense and sensibility.

Others prance about, striking attitudes, but always looking to entertain. The original five Bennet daughters are here reduced to three. 

Victoria Abbott is both Mary and Mr Bingley; Dylan O’Connor is Mr Collins and Miss Bingley. The Bennet family is fortunate to have Steve Corner as a solid, likeable Mr B, while his loud wife is played by Al Evans, who displays every morsel of country/wifely horror.

Also in the cast are Lucy Lock as a (hooray!) likeable sister Jane and (hiss!) unlovable Anne de Bourgh; and Mym Kwa as another sister (yeah!) Lydia and (boo!) Lady Catherine.

The play, briskly directed by Emma Canalese, unravels on a bare stage, except for some colourful floral squiggles on the walls and set-aside seats for the actors to rest before they sally forth once more with their dancing or singing. By the end, we were all on side.

Frank Hatherley

Photographer: Phil Erbacher