Saturday, December 7, 2024

December 5th was opening night for Pliny the Elder’s newest part. She had been cast as Cassie in this play. She is on stage as much as anyone, or more. You could say I’m one proud papa. This is the first time I’ve seen her become a character and not just recite lines.

About twenty minutes into the play, Cassie is confronted by Brian regarding her desires in life. Brian is surprised to learn that Cassie has no interest in being anyone’s wife. This is the first moment for me where Pliny has become the character she portrays. Several audience members gasped at her indignation at the idea that all any woman could want from life was to be wed.

The play itself follows the events of Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice. The story was created by Lauren Gunderson and Margot Melcon and brings the audience “downstairs” to see how Christmas fares for the servants of the household. It moves along quite nicely, and the main antagonist of the story is the scoundrel, George Wickham.

Pliny does a fine job of holding her British accent throughout the performance. She put forth a great deal of effort to be able to pronounce many of the words with that affectation. A few of the cast members do not even seem to attempt to have an accent. I will commend George Wickham here. The actor manages to not only portray a posh British accent, but as the need arises, flows seamlessly into Cockney and right back to posh.

I would say that if you are a fan of Pride and Prejudice, then you should try and catch this one if it is put on by a theater company near you. This play is the middle part of a trilogy preceded by Miss Bennet: Christmas at Pemberley and followed by Georgiana and Kitty: Christmas at Pemberley.