Siobhan Godwood enjoys a sparky, clever and beautiful version of the 203-year-old classic tale at the Corn Exchange
The Regent’s Park Theatre production of Pride and Prejudice is an absolute delight, both for those who know the story inside out and upside down, and those who are seeing it for the first time.
The sparky, combative relationship between Lizzie Bennet and Mr Darcy seems surprisingly modern, and the leads, Tafline Steen and Benjamin Dilloway, managed to make the characters their own, banishing all memories of Keira Knightley or Colin Firth in his damp shirt!
Matthew Kelly was a bit of a revelation as the waspish but affectionate Mr Bennett, while Felicity Montagu was an excellently mad Mrs Bennett. The standout performance of the play, however, was from Steven Meo as Mr Collins; previous versions of the book as films or play have managed to put across his repulsiveness, but this is the first time I’ve ever seen him played quite so hilariously.
Special mention should also go to the set design; it’s both clever and beautiful, comprising one wrought iron door-staircase construction that rotates to form the different houses required by the storyline, and a leafy backdrop that was lit in different ways to summon up the passing of the seasons. In short, this production provides lots of laughs and the odd tear, and makes a well-known and oft-produced story fresh and watchable.
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