SPRINGVILLE — Pride and Prejudice usually oozes with romance and love, but C.S. Griffel’s adaptation, which opened May 30th, performed at the Springville Playhouse, brings to light the comical potential of the play. In a gleeful adaptation of the classic, put on at the Merit Preparatory Academy in Springville, mirth spills from every scene. Jane Austen’s wit is not downplayed or modernized in this adaptation. Rather, the jovial nature of the character’s banter is enhanced to the point of giving the audience side-stitches from near constant laughter.
The story follows the Bennet sisters as they attempt to find husbands within their rural community in Regency England. The second oldest sister, Elizabeth, remains skeptical of finding love, especially after meeting the arrogant Mr. Darcy. The two headstrong characters collide again and again, misinformation clouding their relationship with each other. As they both learn humility, they discover an ardent love for one another.
The cast didn’t have mics but still projected clearly throughout the space. The complexity of the dialogue was delivered in a clear manner. The sheer volume of narrative dialogue that Wendy Gwilliam as Elizabeth Bennet delivered over the course of the play was impressive. A few missteps required improvised lines, which conveniently matched the style of the rest of the production very well.
Robinne Booth as Mrs. Bennet did her character proud, tiptoeing around the happy couples, listening in with a dramatic lean against the doorframe, and proclaiming her fervent emotions with raised arms and eyes. Booth’s performance was bold enough to be memorable, but sincere enough to avoid being silly. Indeed, the expressions, shared glances, and striking gestures of the entire cast enhanced the authenticity of their emotions.
Austen’s crisp and eloquent regency dialogue retains the biting shrewdness that makes it so iconic. The strategic pacing of the dialogue, combined with a purposeful expression or gesture gave the words greater comedic weight. Changes in the phrasing of a scene retained both the plot of the story and the style of writing while highlighting the inherent absurdity of the situation that made it funny.
Matthew DelaFuente as Mr. Darcy kept a straight face during the majority of the first act, (something the audience certainly wasn’t capable of with their rolling laughter), adding to his deadpan humor. During the second act, DelaFuente opened up like a rising loaf of bread. His expressions of earnest adoration and love seemed to fill the space. It was a perfect representation of how Mr. Darcy changes as a character due to his love of Elizabeth. Additionally, the chemistry between Lily Kate Christensen as Jane Bennet and Seven Harrison as Mr. Bingley was adorably sweet. Nora Allen as Mary Bennet delivered a series of philosophical commentaries throughout the play that were the epitome of dry wit and created lovely comedic moments.
Choreographer Nicole Lundquist took on quite the challenge for this production. There were numerous complex dance numbers which required a large number of moving people. Coupled with the limited stage space, and the fact that these numbers often revolved around the movements of the lead characters, it was no easy task to make everything look effortless. Yet, somehow, she did exactly that. The cast performed their dances as though they’d been a part of regency society all their lives. While many of these dances served as a backdrop for the main action, the audience couldn’t help noting their grace and poise.
Hair and makeup was tackled by Rachel Taylor. The vast multitude of ringlets, braids, buns, and coifs that were required by the show were all styled beautifully and maintained their shape throughout the entire production. The makeup subtly enhanced the characterization of each cast member: Mrs. Bennet featured heavier makeup and Elizabeth wore a much subtler amount.
Emily Thorson designed the costumes. The pieces worn were generally the right style for the time period, but the colors and fabric choices didn’t always quite line up. They were more colorful than would have been historically accurate, and included costume jewelry choices that were distracting. However, the costumes aligned with the character’s personalities and helped to create the idea of a regency-era town despite the noticeable anachronisms.
Similarly, props for the show were minimal, but seemed to cause a fair bit of trouble. During a party scene a silver tray of glassware was spilled across the stage. Teacups and trays seemed difficult to arrange on the small side tables. The actors continued on without paying these minor stumbles much mind.
Director Sara Jane Isom specifically chose to create a more intimate black box experience when working with set designer Michael Roberts. Isom mentioned that she wanted the audience to feel like they were in the same room with the characters, rather than just watching them from the outside. The set itself consisted of simple wallpapered backdrops with a few levels and several vintage chairs. Often a single character would walk to the highest level and recite a letter they had sent to a character standing below them with the physical letter in hand. These levels allowed for other interesting staging moments.
Overall, the show was a delight. It was evident that the actors had put a fair amount of effort into their roles and cared deeply about the production. They were also clearly enjoying themselves as they acted together. If the chuckles and giggles of the audience were any indication, it was a night of hilarity and merriment. For longtime fans of Austen, or anyone looking for a good laugh, Pride and Prejudice at the Springville Playhouse is a wonderful way to spend an evening.
MORE INFO: PRIDE AND PREJUDICE is currently playing at the Merit Preparatory Academy (1440 W Center Street, Springville, UT 84663) performed at the Springville Playhouse. Performances are held at 7:30 PM on Friday and Saturday evenings from May 29 through June 20, with a 2:00 PM matinee on June 6th and 20th. Tickets for Pride and Prejudice are $15. For the most up-to-date schedule, performance details, and official ticketing, visit the Springville Playhouse website: https://www.springvilleplayhouse.com/