PRIDE AND PREJUDICE Musical in Ohio: Most Agreeable
The Ohio Light Opera’s musical production of PRIDE AND PREJUDICE gets a rave review from the Akron Beacon-Journal.
The conceit is to place a narrator — the character of Jane Austen wielding a pen — inside the story, and watch her bring it to life. (Or occasionally, to observe the characters, such as the ferocious Lady Catherine De Bourgh, played broadly by Sandra Ross, let her know who’s boss.) The narrator resides mostly on a balcony set above the English country homes of the Bennet family and Mr. Darcy. The beginning of the show was especially arresting: Characters dressed in white drifted onstage as if the narrator’s thoughts were coming to life as she sang.
This sounds very interesting indeed!
Really, it’s not Jane Austen without the biting wit, so it was a relief that this show didn’t dumb it down.
Ain’t that the truth!
What this team has created could easily be transferred to a Broadway stage.
One of the writers of the play has posted in comments that their ambition is to take the musical to Broadway, so it is good to hear that it is worthy. We hope that we get to see it.
As always, we would love to post reviews of this production from our readers who are so fortunate as to see it.
ETA July 16: The Columbus Dispatch is more measured in its praise: excellent idea, good cast, music is just meh.
ETA July 18: And another review from the Plain Dealer, who thought there were some problems.
July 19th, 2006 at 7:13 am
I saw the premiere last Friday, and I liked it. I thought that having Jane Austen as a character streamlined the production, and she actually interacted with the characters (and got some of the lines of dialogue — e.g., Sir William Lucas’s comment about the likelihood of Jane & Bingley marrying). The stage was very well set up, with several levels serving as different locations, and Jane Austen was usually seated or standing on a balcony overlooking all of the action. The center of the stage served as the outdoors as well as the dance floor for both the Meryton Assembly and the Netherfield Ball.
The acting and singing were good, although I had difficulty understanding some of the words to the songs — especially when the chorus was singing. I liked the women’s costumes, especially for the Bennet girls: they wore plain chemises and usually just buttoned on an over garment for different scenes. The breeches for the men didn’t all fit very well, but the soldiers’ red coats were quite charming.
I did think it was too long at 2 hours 40 minutes (plus a 20 minute intermission), but they covered most of the story. The first act ended after Darcy’s explanatory letter and the second act ended after Darcy’s successful second proposal.
I actually liked having the characters occasionally narrate passages rather than cover it with made-up dialogue, but I did wonder if that was confusing to audience members who were less familiar with the book. The orchestra was good if occasionally a little overpowering (which didn’t help with trying to understand the words being sung).
The authors (Ms. Baker & Ms. Jacobs, appropriately dressed in Regency style) were present and came up on the stage during final bows. The standing ovation was for them, not for the performance. Though some people had stood to applaud the performance, I think it was only about half the audience. But most of us gave the authors a standing round of applause.
Was it great? No. But it was good, and I quite enjoyed this production. I would love to have a CD of the music (along with a copy of the lyrics, to be certain I could undertand!).
July 19th, 2006 at 9:39 am
Thanks for the review! I liked the idea of Jane Austen as narrator, though the last reviewer I listed didn’t care for it. I think that break-the-fourth-wall thing works better on stage than it does on film.
The breeches for the men didn’t all fit very well
Always a disappointment.
I hope this does make it to Broadway so I get a chance to see it…
July 21st, 2006 at 2:40 pm
Look, never mind Broadway. Have the authors considered that the 2007 Edinburgh Festival Fringe would be the perfect venue for the UK premiere? (Guess where I live?) And believe me, every Austen connected show which has been on the Fringe has been a sell-out.
July 22nd, 2006 at 8:12 pm
Below please find a copy of the press release with contact information:
World Premiere - Jane Austen’s Pride & Prejudice, A Musical
Jane Austen’s Pride & Prejudice, A Musical announce world premiere with the Ohio Light Opera.
Rochester, NY (PRWEB) June 25, 2006 — Jane Austen’s Pride & Prejudice, A Musical announce world premiere with the Ohio Light Opera.
* July 14th, 20th, 25th, 30th & August 5th @ 2pm: at Freelander Theatre, 329 E University St, Wooster, OH 44691. Tickets available at $39 Adult $15 Students.
* Friday, August 11 @ 8pm - Limited seats available
To purchase tickets, call 330-263-2345 or visit the theatre box office.
Jane Austen’s Pride & Prejudice, A Musical
Book, Music & Lyrics by Lindsay Warren Baker & Amanda Jacobs
July 14th — August 11, 2006
What makes this production unique is that the writers have managed to combine three worlds:
* Jane Austen’s World — where she wrote and developed the characters behind a closed door
* The world of Pride & Prejudice — where the characters come to life
* The combination of the two worlds — where Jane Austen writes the story, interacts with and is inspired by her characters.
This is the story of Pride & Prejudice. It is a story of love — the love an author has for her characters and the love the characters have for one another.
Following the 2004 workshop with the Eastman School of Music, Rochester, NY the show was slated for 2006 Festival Season with The Ohio Light Opera under the artistic direction of Steven Daigle, musical direction of J.Lynn Thompson, scenic design of Kirk Domer and costume design of Charlene Gross. The writers will be in residence when the show goes into production June 26th. For further information contact the Bajorek Agency 585-334-8110.
July 23rd, 2006 at 10:24 am
Thank you for all the great comments. I must defend myself though!
The men’s breeches were actually period reproductions referred to
as fall-front breeches. They are made with an extra “pouch” (if you will)
in the rear to allow for extra moment. What we think of of as fitted breeches
today were only used by the upper classes (ie Bingley & Darcy). Check out Jas Townsend’s
webstie for more info. I too was only trying to remain faithful to history. It’s isn’t always as
pretty as we wish it were.
On another note, I feel this is one of the most lovely new musicals I’ve worked on and I’ve
done quite a few! I highly recommend seeing it if you have a chance. Lindsay and Amanda
achieved a great deal in relaying Austen’s story clearly and loving in a new art form!
August 2nd, 2006 at 12:45 pm
My wife and I make a pilgrimage from New Jersey to Wooster, Ohio every year at about this time to see the OLO season; it’s the best light-opera company in America (no contest), and one of the top two or three in the entire world. (Their schedule allows you to see all of seven or eight shows in one week. The only problem is that there’s very little else to do in Wooster; we usually spend time catching summer movies at the local 10-plex.) This show was great fun, and an amazingly faithful rendition of the novel. My only serious criticism is that there should have been another intermission, not for mere /sitzfleisch/, but because JA wrote the book in three volumes, and the story naturally falls into three parts. (That’s why the present structure is so lopsided; the only intermission comes as it should, at the 2/3 mark.)
At the performance I attended, the entire audience rose to applaud the cast. Jill Anna Ponasik, as Jane Austen, is a newcomer to OLO, but established herself at once with terrific energy and presence. Sara Gartland and Joseph Valone were first-rate as Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy, and OLO regulars Ted Christopher and Julie Wright had a great deal of fun as the senior Bennets. The entire cast, in fact, is excellent.
If the show comes to our area, we will certainly wish to see it again.