Pride & Prejudice* (*sort of) – Liverpool Playhouse

Writer and Director: Isobel McArthur

Pride & Prejudice* (*sort of) is a fun and quirky show filled with regency refined chaos and hilarious one-liners you’ll be quoting in the car home. It helps to have a prior understanding of Pride and Prejudice to appreciate this show’s majesty, because as far as modern comedy musicals go- this is what Jane would have wanted. 

Told from the perspective of the maids in the respective houses in which Pride and Prejudice is set, this show takes you on a tour of the classic story with modern comedic and musical stops woven through. The maids tell you where they gave the story’s protagonists a nudge in the right direction by delaying the delivery of letters, encouraging conversation, or setting the mood with flower petals and music. 

Although the story keeps its regency costuming and setting, the language is all modern. Make way for some of the funniest lines from the classic story converted to modern day, if Elizabeth Bennet was alive now, this is absolutely what she’d say.

This isn’t only true for Elizabeth either, if Mrs Bennet (her mother whose only wish is to have all of her daughters married) was alive now she would also have a two hour rollercoaster of a breakdown like Julia Murray’s ‘so far over the edge it was never there to begin with’ rendition of the character. In perfect contrast, Phoebe Marshall’s airheaded, golden retriever-like, take on Bingley at the Meryton ball is an expertly exaggerated version of the original. 

At Darcy’s iconic first interaction with Lizzy, she doesn’t hesitate to grab the mic and sing Carly Simon’s You’re So Vain at him and never before has there been such a perfect use of this song. This isn’t the only time a modern pop favourite gets perfectly inserted into Austen’s story. This show definitely knows its source material and its fans back to front because it constantly delivers what is best for both without compromising one or the other. 

Maybe the best comedic treasure of the show, however, belongs to Roxanne Morgan’s Mr Collins, the boorish and utterly repulsive gentleman who no one wants the misfortune of marrying. Already a laughably awkward character in Austen’s original, here this is Mr Collins on steroids- speaking about a cream the doctor gave him to treat…something, and demonstrating how he uses it. Morgan’s awkward comedy genius makes his presence on stage a moment to look forward to whenever he appears. 

The sly yet charming Wickham’s entrance to the show is met with the laughably fitting song, Smooth Operator. He later has a solo where he sings his fake sob story about Darcy on a starry night under a single spotlight, his poser body language and smoulder is expertly pulled off by Eva Hope.

Though the show maintains an incredibly chaotic fast pace throughout, its ending is the true climax. Darcy’s botched proposal is accented by the maids clumsily playing kazoos before they hurriedly clatter away. When Lizzy cries when discovering the news of Lydia running off with Wickham, Darcy is so painfully awkward with women it’s a hilarious moment to see one of the maids try and encourage this socially regressed man’s attempt to comfort a crying woman. 

The whole show has a concert feel with a prop karaoke machine and microphones used throughout sections of the show. (Perfect for lovers of Six looking to scratch an itch and see a comparable format.) The maids vamp with the audience, Bingley runs down the aisles, and Mr Collins gets the audience clapping for Lady Catherine. All these elements put the audience in a party mood and set you up for a great night among a tight cast who feel at one with the room- not separated far away on a stage.

No cast member will finish this production with their breath saved either, their lightning fast multiroling is an incredible feat for only five cast members. There is no weak link here, each one creates characters in a way you can’t wait to see them take on more and their singing voices soar through the familiar pop hits- urging you to sing along and never making you long for their original versions. 

Overall, Pride & Prejudice* (*sort of) is an unmissable show for lovers of Austen, the classic film and TV series, Bridgerton, Bridget Jones, and period dramas. Its quirky comedy and the comedic expertise of its cast make you feel in safe hands for the whole night. Prepare to laugh, sing, and feel clever for understanding classic literature on a new level. 

Runs until 17 October 2026