Nice period drama, perfect for a winters night

Pride and Prejudice at Gryphon Theatre by Stagecraft ⭐️⭐️⭐️ 1/2 20 May 2023

There is obviously still a place for the classics to be staged judging by the audience numbers that this production has attracted. It’s easy to see why. This show has no swearing, no violence, just great language and a romantic story. The set is reasonably basic and what you would expect at a production with limited resources. It functioned well regardless, inviting you to use your imagination which I quite enjoy. Lighting was mostly wash with some levels adjusted for certain scenes. A highlight for me was the costuming. It suited the era perfectly and right down to the shoes, was commendable.

The story is well known and this adaptation had included quite a bit of humour to lighten and add pace to the play. There is a notable nod to Bridgerton with inclusion of some pop songs arranged to an orchestral score. The ball scene however did go on too long and would have benefitted having been trimmed to improve the pace of the first half. There was also a speed dating scene that went too long and it appeared that even some of the cast were getting a bit tired of its repetitive nature. The cast were mostly very good with three standout performers. Both the leads (Mr Darcy and Elizabeth Bennett) and Charles Bingley excelled in their roles today. I enjoyed their quality characterisations and they all suited their roles perfectly. Congratulations to Stagecraft. This was an enjoyable afternoon of theatre and I’d definitely recommend it for an evening’s entertainment