Pride and Prejudice* (*Sort Of) – Marlowe Theatre, Canterbury

Written by Isobel McArthur after Jane Austen

Director: Isobel McArthur

There are plenty of punchlines in the riotous Pride and Prejudice* (*Sort Of), which breathes new life into the Jane Austen classic.

Isobel McArthur’s production throws us sideways, instead showing us a different angle of the classic novel, this time from the perspective of the house servants, always there but forever ignored, and who act out the events of the novel in their own, comedically chaotic, way. From the moment you arrive in the theatre, you are brought into the housemaids’ world as they clean and sweep around you as you take your seat. What follows is a terrific romp through Austen’s original work, drawing upon some of the novel’s absurdities and quirks to earn every laugh.

One may be led to believe that it is inaccessible if you are unfamiliar with Austen’s original work. Still, thanks to the clever writing and tremendous work from a multi-rolling quintet, the production does a great job of keeping events clear throughout. This too is not only a comedy but with an abundance of music too, weaving in 80s hits to not only land a few gags but also to hammer home some of the piece’s emotional moments, amusingly turning one of literature’s great works, at times, into a musical romcom.

Where the production truly shines is in the superb work of the quintet cast. Made up of Emma Rose Creaner, Eleanor Kane, Rhianna McGreevy, Naomi Preston Low and Christine Steel, the five work tirelessly, and successfully, to bring together not just the Bennett sisters looking for a husband, but also the enigmatic Darcy, the bore Collins and the feisty Bennett matriarch. Aided by quick costume changes and a witty script, the character switches work well and are used themselves as punchlines, while also injecting energy into the piece, which even a die-hard Austen fan might concede the novel needs on occasion.

While the production succeeds in its comedic aims, the pace and relentlessness of the jokes subsides a little in a more emotionally charged second half. The inclusion of music, when it does work, lands with some success with one particular scene where Jane Bennett rides a cheekily named horse, Willie, while singing Etta James’ ‘At Last’ brings a brilliant combination of music and physical comedy in a standout scene. That said, some of the musical numbers feel shoehorned in and do not quite land as well as the organic placing of songs such as Bonnie Tyler’s terrific ‘Holding Out For A Hero’. Nevertheless, McArthur’s script is full of clever gags and neat nods to the source material. It is a genius move to reduce the emotionally defunct Mr Bennett to just a chair with an amusingly placed newspaper, and the hyperbolising of such characters as Collins and Lady de Bourgh work well even if you’re unfamiliar with the source material.

Despite a few pacing blips, Pride and Prejudice* (*Sort Of) remains a lot of fun. This is a witty and bold take on the classic work that keeps in it a lot of affection for Austen’s writing, while lacing it with some adult humour, clever word play and humorous caricatures of the novel’s liveliest characters. This is a funny and fresh take on a text that has been staged to death, and one that earns every one of its laugh-out-loud moments.

Runs until 10 May 2025 then continues tour.