In a time when marriage was as much a business transaction as a romantic affair, James Bennet (Mr Bennet of P&P) is being pressured by his father, Robert, to marry and produce an heir to continue their line and retain the Longbourn estate which if he doesn’t will pass, through an entail, to his distant cousin Benedict Collins (the father of William Collins of P&P). James is reluctant to accept the idea of marriage but sees an opportunity to spite his father by courting the daughter, Emily, of the family’s attorney-at-law, George Gardiner, someone below his class.
In a departure from their usual venue at The Courthouse Theatre, BNT used the Reading Room at the historic Craig’s Hotel to stage this production. Although this building dates from the 1850s, a later period than that in which the play is set, the sumptuous decor with its taffeta draperies, provided an elegant locale. All of the action, with the exception of a couple of entrances, took place on the raised platform at one end of the room. The area doubled as the drawing room of Longbourn as well as the Gardiners’ home. Although I understand the use of plain chairs sought to not clarify the status of each household and was not an inappropriate design decision I did question the choice of them being white. I would have preferred the use of the balloon back chairs that the audience were seated on. That said, the area was mostly used well though there were a few blocking choices which meant actors were not playing in a suitable position.
Mark Briggs gave us a dignified Robert, and we got a good sense of his frustration with his indolent son, James, who was suitably played by Ciaran Corrigan. The other member of their household was Robert’s sister, Mary Ellingworth (not Bennet as is stated in the programme), beautifully portrayed by Elly Krieg who captured not only the calm and graceful persona of the character but also played in the style of the period perfectly. Dan Purdy portrayed the measured and businesslike lawyer, George Gardiner, in a suitably competent performance which contrasted nicely with Lynette Plenderleith’s depiction of his flighty wife, Sarah. The role of their daughter, Emily, was shared by Ruby Abbott and Clementine Sawyer. I saw Clementine at the performance I attended and she gave delightful rendition of an excited, twittering young girl. We can well understand how she would have morphed into the Mrs Bennet of ‘Pride and Prejudice’, prone to histrionics.
Shannon Nicholls, having played William Collins in BNT’s production of ‘Pride and Prejudice’, now plays his father Benedict. He conveyed the pomposity and arrogance of the character well.
Early in the play there is a scene when would-be bride Clara Bowman and her mother attend Longbourn in the hope of catching James. These roles were played by Mika Wallace and Laura Farrow respectively.
Ms Plenderleith also doubled in the role of the Bennet’s observant yet deferential housekeeper Mrs Graves.
Mike Zala provided a lovely gentle soundscape with music befitting the period.
Alexandra Meerbach’s costumes were lavish and all mostly fitted the period, particularly those worn by the men. The millinery created by Megan J Riedl was stunning but the actors’ faces do need to be seen; not only were they shadowed but in the case of Mrs Bowman her face was totally masked when she was facing stage left, which she did for much of her scene. I also felt there was a scene when the resident of the house would not have been wearing a hat. And definitely Mr Collins would have removed his hat upon entering into the room and the presence of ladies. He could have remained in his coat, as he did, for the line about being in his riding/travelling gear.
Director, Megan J Riedl, had obviously given her cast opportunity to play with the comedic aspects of the dialogue and despite the slow start to the performance pace did pick up.
I commend BNT for their innovation in presenting this production in a different environment and generally coping with the vagaries and challenges that it would present.