By Elise Hanson-Barnett
It is a truth universally acknowledged that when one reflects on Jane Austen’s famed novel Pride and Prejudice, Mary Bennet is probably the very last character on one’s mind. The current production of Miss Bennet: Christmas at Pemberley at Pioneer Theatre Company aims to change all that. Poor, poor Mary Bennet. The consummate middle child, she is largely overlooked by her more jolly, emotionally-intelligent sisters and downright dismissed by her parents. Logical, pious, harsh, and morose, Mary gets no romantic attention and seems to be the butt of every joke. Lauren Gunderson and Margot Melcon’s script brings this hapless middle child to the forefront in a frothy, buoyant holiday piece with a sense of glimmering optimism that I’m not sure Jane Austen would have liked, but succeeds at some charming fan service. Pioneer Theatre Company’s current production is a decided departure from more familiar Christmas fare, still sweet and fun and family-friendly, but without a story you’ve seen a million times.
The action of Christmas at Pemberley takes place two years after the events of the novel at the ancestral home of Fitzwilliam Darcy (Greg Balla (see interview with Balla here)). The first thing that I noticed about this production was the set design by Lauren Helpern. The scenery is very much true to the trends of the era, celebrating Greco-Roman motifs and the juxtaposition of pastel and vivid colors. A centerpiece of the decoration is Elizabeth Darcy’s (Emily Nash) Christmas tree, a couple of decades ahead of its time in an English household and therefore the topic of a lot of discussion and sometimes derision. The latter comes in heapings of hilarity from Savannah Moffat as Anne de Bourgh, heir to Rosings and former fiancée to Darcy. Moffat provides a refreshing shot in the arm of cynicism and irony, something so absent in the piece that I wish her character had been introduced a few scenes earlier. Her sniffing and snide remarks about the handsome scenery and the habits of the Bennet sisters feel the most truthful to the author’s voice to this Austen fan. Indeed, I found that a handful of characters (namely Bingley, Jane, Lydia, and Anne) felt lifted straight from the source material. Elizabeth was the most unfamiliar, her more attractive traits reassigned to Mary for the purposes of this piece of fan fiction.
It is apparent, from the get-go, that this company of actors have worked with a dialect coach, and for that I give my most hearty huzzah. Sarah Shippobotham creates a cohesive and period-appropriate cadence for the actors, ensuring that the British dialects are not only accurate to the region but the era. Dialect coaches are too often under-utilized in productions, and I would venture to say that Pemberley is proof that hiring a coach should be common practice. In particular I commend Moffat, Balla, and Jessica Naimy as Lydia on the breezy, natural sound of their accents.
The play, at its heart, is a romance, and Elizabeth Ramos as Mary and Jamen Nanthakumar as Arthur de Bourgh are cute as buttons in the romantic roles. Both somewhat socially stunted intellectual pedants, the characters and actors are convincing and well-matched, voicing some of the most quotable lines in the play.Director Julie Kramer has created a piece that has the delicate touch of Austen’s era, but also gives the obviously modern writing a nod as well. This is a show that has strong female roles and Kramer keeps that focus with a deft hand. Lighting Designer Michael Gillam has the wonderful job of lighting up a Christmas tree and the beautiful set that surrounds it. He creates the warmth necessary for Pemberly and I felt like it was indeed an authentic home of that era. The sumptuous costumes by Sarah Branch Towne are delicious and rich and delectable as a Christmas dessert. The colors, the fabrics, the styles all are precise, authentic and delightful. It helped transport the audience to another more opulent time and place and we feel a part of this festive time.
Pemberley provides the perfect literary snack for the holiday season that has been gleaned for simply decades from A Christmas Carol while offering something different to taste. It is not imperative that one be familiar with Pride and Prejudice, though I can imagine it certainly helps. Metacentric and referential humor abounds, winking at the audience as if to say, “aren’t you glad these Bennet sisters are back?”
Pioneer Theatre Company presents Miss Bennet: Christmas at Pemberley by Lauren Gunderson and Margot Melcon
Pioneer Theatre Company, 300 S 1400 E SLC, UT 84112
November 30 – December 15, 2018, Monday – Thursday 7:00 PM, Friday-Saturday 7:30 PM, 2:00 PM matinees December 12/8, 12/ 15.
Tickets: $$30 – $45 in advance, and $5 more when purchased on the day of the show
Contact: 801-581-6961
Pioneer Theatre Company Facebook Page
Christmas at Pemberley Facebook event
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