Hamill's Pride and Prejudice creates the bridge that connects the nuanced tropes of Austen's 19th-century feminism to the conversations about gender equality happening currently. Westmont's production was a refreshingly fierce look at the symptoms of the gender power imbalance that are still festering in today's culture.
There are plenty of ways of describing Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice. Sophisticated, approachable, elegant, witty. But very few would describe it as wacky... unless those lucky few had seen Kate Hamill's production, as directed by Desdemona Chiang at the Pittsburgh Public Theater. I can't remember the last time I had quite as much fun at a 'classical' period piece, even while realizing that this was certain to be one of the most divisive shows in PPT history. Throughout the evening I heard audiences laughing, clapping, even cheering the production's gleeful ingenuity, while at intermission I heard several people complain that 'it's a wonderful production of a stupid play' and that they 'thought it would be more Masterpiece Theatre.'
PRIDE AND PREJUDICE has been adapted over and over (once with zombies!) because it's a classic tale of manners, social mores, love and determination. The version currently playing at Trinity Rep was adapted by Kate Hamill who is known for her contemporary adaptations of classic works. Unfortunately, in the case of this production, the excellent cast and cheeky adaptation were marred by clunky staging and what seemed like an unwillingness to fully commit to to the contemporary premise. Interesting double casting makes the show fun and unexpected in many ways, but also causes the stage to be set up in a way that doesn't do the audience any favors. True devotees of Pride and Prejudice will no doubt find much to love with the exceptional cast, but some of us may just be underwhelmed.
Great Lakes Theater has found a perfect combination of scripts to start its 57th season. The fun, escapist juke box musical, 'Mamma Mia!,' had the audience excitedly on its feet for the extended curtain call. 'Pride and Prejudice,' the epic story of class-stratification and misunderstanding feelings in 19th century England, also had the audience on its feet at the end. This time, instead of dancing and singing, it was applause for a well-directed and performed staging.
Trinity Rep will open its 2018-19 Season with Pride and Prejudice by Kate Hamill, adapted from the novel by Jane Austen. This classic "will they or won't they" romance between Elizabeth Bennet and Mr. Darcy is infused with fresh vitality and hilarity in this effervescent new comedic adaptation, directed by Birgitta Victorson.
Pittsburgh Public Theater begins its 44th season with a new management team - Artistic Director Marya Sea Kaminski and Managing Director Lou Castelli - and the Pittsburgh premiere of Kate Hamill's innovative comedy, Pride and Prejudice. Directed by Desdemona Chiang, Pride and Prejudice runs September 27 - October 28, 2018 at the O'Reilly Theater, Pittsburgh Public Theater's home in the heart of Downtown's Cultural District.
Trinity Rep will open its 2018-19 Season with Pride and Prejudice by Kate Hamill, adapted from the novel by Jane Austen. This classic "will they or won't they" romance between Elizabeth Bennet and Mr. Darcy is infused with fresh vitality and hilarity in this effervescent new comedic adaptation, directed by Birgitta Victorson.
'Pride & Prejudice,' by Kate Hamill at Dorset Theatre Festival plays August 9-25 at Dorset Playhouse, 104 Cheney Road, Dorset, VT 05251 $48-$58. For tickets or information, call 802-867-2223, or go online to dorsettheatrefestival.org.
Dorset Theatre Festival, under the leadership of Artistic Director Dina Janis, Producing Director Will Rucker, and Executive Director Marissa Hutton, presents Kate Hamill's PRIDE AND PREJUDICE, adapted from the original novel by Jane Austen, directed by Christopher V. Edwards, with a cast that includes KRYSTEL LUCAS ("The Blacklist", "Jessica Jones") as "Jane, Miss De Bourgh," JESSICA FREY Sense and Sensibility - BEDLAM) as "Lizzy," AISHLING PEMBROKE as "Lydia, Lady Catherine," DAVE QUAY (The Low Road - The Public Theater) as "Mr. Darcy," RYAN QUINN (Whorl Inside a Loop - Second Stage) as "Mr. Collins, Mr. Wickham, Miss Bingley," CARMAN LACIVITA (Marvin's Room - Broadway) as "Mr. Bingley, Mary," OMAR ROBINSON (Hamlet - Actors' Shakespeare Project) as "Charlotte Lucas, Mr. Bennet," and JOAN COOMBS (Tartuffe - Shakespeare and Company) as "Mrs. Bennet".
Dog Days Theatre continues its second season with a thrilling new stage adaptation of Henry James' gripping ghost story THE TURN OF THE SCREW, directed by Chris Clavelli and adapted for the stage by Jeffrey Hatcher. The production previews August 7 and 8, opens August 9 and runs through August 26 in the Cook Theatre in the FSU Center for Performing Arts in Sarasota.
Ben Roddy - best known as The Marlowe's pantomime dame - is to star in Return Of The Unknown, a major new work to mark the centenary of the Armistice.
CASTING has been announced for this year's Marlowe pantomime. Cinderella will star Harry Reid, Phil "Mister Maker" Gallagher and Sally Lindsay, along side Canterbury favourites, Ben Roddy and Lloyd Hollett.
Dorset Theatre Festival, under the leadership of Artistic Director Dina Janis, Producing Director Will Rucker, andExecutive Director Marissa Hutton, is proud to announce casting for the 41st season. All performances will take place at the Dorset Playhouse (104 Cheney Rd, Dorset, VT 05251).
Porchlight Music Theatre announces the final extension of its latest production, Memphis. Memphis must close Saturday, June 16, following that evening's 8 p.m. performance. Now playing through June 16 at The Ruth Page Center for the Arts, 1016 N. Dearborn Street, features book and lyrics by Joe DiPietro and music and lyrics by David Bryan and is directed by Daryl D. Brooks, assistant directed and choreographed by Christopher Carter, music directed by Jermaine Hill and assistant choreographed by Reneisha Jenkins.
Porchlight Music Theatre announces that due to audience demand Memphis is now extended through Sunday, June 10, at The Ruth Page Center for the Arts, 1016 N. Dearborn Street.
The Copenhagen Theatre Circle's (CTC) community theatre production of Pride and Prejudice, offers the audience an enigmatic look on the popular Jane Austen novel.
Staging PRIDE AND PREJUDICE for live theater is an ambitious undertaking. The cast members at Woonsocket's Rhode Island Stage Ensemble (RISE) certainly give the performance their best efforts, but the choppy adaptation now on stage at the RISE Playhouse disservices both the company and Jane Austen's novel.
Porchlight Music Theatre's Mainstage 2017-2018 season concludes with Memphis, April 19 - June 3, at The Ruth Page Center for the Arts, 1016 N. Dearborn Street. Memphis, book and lyrics by Joe DiPietro and music and lyrics by David Bryan, is directed by Daryl D. Brooks, assistant directed and choreographed by Christopher Carter, music directed by Jermaine Hill and assistant choreographed by Reneisha Jenkins.
Long Wharf Theatre, under the direction of Managing Director Joshua Borenstein, presents Ken Ludwig's Baskerville: A Sherlock Holmes Mystery, directed by Brendon Fox.
Long Wharf Theatre, under the direction of Managing Director Joshua Borenstein, presents Ken Ludwig's Baskerville: A Sherlock Holmes Comic Mystery, directed by Brendon Fox.
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