| Musicals
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Pride and Prejudice
Reviews The Evening Mail, by Helen Wall Novel Idea Pays Off Nicely Turning the classic English novel Pride and Prejudice into a musical is a dodgy business, but to his credit Bernard J Taylor has managed it without being tacky or trite. The show follows the plot and characterisation closely enough to suit those who can quote every line of Jane Austen's book while telling the story plainly enough to entertain the few who don't know it. Abbey Musical Society had the difficult task of pitching their performances to the genre, but by the end of the first night had it more or less sorted with Jean Conlong ending up a magnificently nervy Mrs Bennet, relishing some of the best lines. Tracie Mitchell is the ideal Jane Bennet and Fiona Windle is a sparky Elizabeth, although it took a couple of blazing rows before she really got a handle on the character. The younger Bennet girls are stars. Denise Rattray and Sue Wass give excellent performances as plain, sulky Mary and a wonderfully giggly, whiny Kitty - and Camille Malaawy is outstanding as flirty Lydia. Among the men, Trystan Roberts is a real find. His Mr Collins is comic perfection. The others did not quite fulfil their potential, although Dave Diggle as Darcy and Grant Butcher as Bingley were adorable in their love scenes and, now the first night is over, will probably give the performances they are really capable of. The show looks gorgeous with lovely costumes and amazing scenery, changing effortlessly from one stately home to another before your very eyes. |
