The court was certainly aflutter during Plied and Prejudice, a racy adaptation of Jane Austen’s novel Pride and Prejudice.
Featuring five unhinged actors playing 20 characters, this action-packed romp enthrals from start to finish. The night unravels from the moment the characters strut out onto the catwalk stage, running between the audience, perfect for posturing with outrageous innuendo.
Bridget Jones’s Diary fans will relish the parallels to Pride and Prejudice (minus the knickers, huge or otherwise), and Bridgerton, Little Britain, and Rick Astley aficionados will be in for a debauched treat. It’s probably just as well Jane Austen is no longer around to witness this tequila-soaked production.
Written by Matthew Semple with original direction by Dash Kruck, the swoons are aplenty thanks to director Ian Good and producer Alex Woodward from Woodward Productions. The lusty performance is hardly surprising given Mr Darcy’s soaked white shirt and the amount skulled by Elizabeth Bennett whenever there was a mention of tea, or the bell rang.
Certain cast members will be indisposed each night to keep it fresh, as if it could get any livelier. The production stars Ayesha Gibson (Elizabeth Bennet and others), Patrick Gandin (Darcy and others), Rp van der Westhuizen (Collins, Bingley, Wickham and others), Jess Lally (Catherine de Bourgh and others), Lucy Goodrick (Jane Bennet and others) Hanna Harvey (Swing) and Oliver Clare (Swing).
Set and costume designer Penny Challen portrayed Regency-ridiculousness with tongue-in-cheek aplomb. The actors’ performance, with all the grace of a frenetic ballet dancer, can be attributed to the movement direction of Dan Venz. A word of warning, this is not for the conservative or under-18-year-olds, you will be outraged while secretly longing to be invited to the after-party. Pray to Great Britain that you aren’t chosen to become part of the performance.
After sell-out shows in Brisbane and London, the Perth season has already been extended to 28th September 2025. No doubt, the extra tickets will sell quickly to the uninitiated, intrigued by the scandalous reports, and repeat theatre-goers craving more unruly decorum.
So, dust off your fascinators and get dressed (or undressed) for the booziest ball of the century at Pemberley. Mr Darcy’s shirt isn’t the only thing that will be drenched by the end.
Plied and Prejudice runs from 18th July to 28th September at Downstairs at The Maj. If you’re lucky to be invited as Lady Catherine De Bourgh’s honoured guest, tickets are $100 for a plush throne and prosecco. Front-row aristocrat tickets are $70, middle-class cabaret-style seating is $60 and the paupers on high stools will be flogged $30.
To book tickets to Plied and Prejudice, please visit http://artsculturetrust.wa.gov.au/venues/his-majestys-theatre/whats-on/plied-and-prejudice/.
Photographer: Caitlin Irving
