Review: PRIDE AND PREJUDICE at Krudttønden

This stage version, penned by Jon Jory, creates the feeling of the audience being intimately involved in the show, since the cast transitions from being a storyteller to portraying a role, and vice versa. This helps keep up the pace of the story, never creating a dull moment. The show is also highlighted by the regal period costumes, hairstyles, and dances. I left the theater with delight, and with a big smile on my face!

Pride and Prejudice is set in Hertfordshire, England, during a time, when the majority of the inheritance would almost always be passed down to the eldest son, but then poses a problem for a family only with daughters.

Adrian McKinder portrays the strict patriarch of the family, Mr. Bennet, who lives for creating several punchlines during the show. The punchlines, include hidden messages, which help his daughters make their own decisions in life. Mrs. Bennet, on the other hand, is the typical "mom", who only feels that her goal in life, is to marry off her daughters and gain a son. She is portrayed by Gemma Wilkie.

Emma Nymann portrays Elizabeth Bennet with poise and a glow in her eye, and is absolutely fantastic in hiding her intentions, even for a "well-spoken woman". Opposite her is Niels Madsen, who portrays the dashing Mr. Darcy, as well down-to-earth even with that little tingle of arrogance of his voice, when he talks about his opinions of women. When I asked Niels if this show will appeal to a Danish audience; he replied, "Of course. Well... I still think that it is story mostly appreciated by international citizens, as it is not included in any danish school curriculum. It is however a love story, and includes a setting that appeals to the masses, so i would say that we can expect to perform, for a mostly full theatre throughout the whole run".

The role of Jane Bennet, is portrayed with ease by Emma Borrow. When Emma acts on stage, she could almost be exactly, who Jane Austen had in mind, when she wrote the novel. When I asked Emma what this version could offer the audience, instead of just watching the BBC tv series or Keira Knightley film, she replied; "The pure fact that anything can happen! There is this constant anticipation of 'what will happen next?' and when you are on stage there is the little butterflies in your stomach that are always keeping you on toes. Then there is the audience that are physically sharing every moment with you, they are along for the whole ride and taking the journey with us and that is what is so beautiful about theatre!". Marius Lathey, who portrays Jane Bennet's lover Mr, Bingley, shows the audience in his unique way, what every man feels when either trying to ask someone out on a date or for their hand in marriage.

Fie Dahl, Emma Dobson and Maja Svendsen, who portray the rest of the Bennet siblings, Mary, Kitty and Lydia respectively; all contribute to the meaning of family, and the importance of sibling relationships; as well as to Mrs. Bennet's headache of getting them married off. I might add that Maja impressed the audience, by still going on with the show, despite her using crutches owing to a recent foot injury.

Mats Janowski, portrays Mr. Collins, in a very fabulous discreet flamboyant way, which both made me laugh, and think "This is what happens when people marry within families".

Mr. Wickham has this air of a "macho man" going on around him (as much macho man, as it can get during that time period), but it isn't till the 2nd act you finally see the lighter side of him. Charlie Waller portrays the role of Mr. Wickham.

Kat Jørgensen shows off the aristocratic Lady Catherine de Bourgh, but also has a soft heart that absolutely cares much for marrying her daughter off, knowing the implications of her family's name if her daughter remains single. Kat really emphasizes to the audience, how much a parent is involved in their children marrying another.

Katrina Marshall portrays Miss Bingley, and gives the character the infamous "big sister" aura, and practically captures the audience hearts in doing so.

I caught up with the director, Jens Blegaa, and asked him, what his reasons were for choosing to direct this show; he replied, "I read the book for the first time a few years ago, and when I was thinking about what I would like to direct, I thought this would be an interesting challenge. The story is subtle, and relies on the way the characters change as they are forced to come to grips with their own faults, so it's a different dynamic compared to, for example, a straight farce or a play with a lot of external action. It also seemed like a good fit for the CTC and our typical audiences, and of course, the timing was right, with the occasion of the bicentennial of Jane Austen's death."

Pride and Prejudice runs until April 28, at Krudttønden in Copenhagen. More details on www.ctcircle.dk on purchase of tickets, including upcoming shows.