“Pride and Prejudice,” a stage play adapted by Kate Hamill and based on the 1813 novel written by Jane Austen, will be performed at Ruth N. Halls Theatre from Feb. 13-21, bringing love and humor to Indiana University.
The production, directed by guest artist Melissa Rain Anderson, features work from many third-year Master of Fine Arts students within the acting, design, technology and dramaturgy programs at IU and serves as a capstone project for some.
The classic “Pride and Prejudice” tale follows the Bennet family as they navigate love and social class in Regency-era England. The plot closely follows the romance between Lizzy, a middle daughter of the Bennet family, and Mr. Darcy, a wealthy landowner. Hamill’s stage adaptation adds fast-paced humor and modern energy to Austen’s original work while keeping its central themes intact.
Isabelle McNamara-Angel, a third-year acting MFA student who plays Lizzy, said she was especially excited to accept her role in the production.
“‘Pride and Prejudice’ has always been just one of my favorite stories,” McNamara-Angel said. “So, I was kind of lucky that I was unknowingly preparing for it for all my life.”
When preparing the production, the team spent extensive time researching and exploring ways to stay true to the time period through aspects of the story such as costuming, set design and historical accuracies.
Costume designer and MFA candidate Ava Francisco spent weeks sourcing, renting and building the different costumes featured in the production.
“Lots of research is the basis of understanding how we can recreate that iconic silhouette in ways that are affordable, time-efficient and allows for the action of the play to happen,” Francisco said.
Third-year MFA dramaturgy student Megan Gray Lederman also played a major role in the research process for the production, helping shape how the audience understands the world of the play.
Lederman also highlighted the production’s relevance by noting Jane Austen’s 250th birthday was last December and emphasizing the importance of the story’s romance within the modern world.
“I think a big theme is yearning and longing that exists in this world that we just don't have in our world anymore,” Lederman said. “The romance and whimsy of this world is really exciting to do right now, especially with romance in our world being all swipes and digital.”
Most of the eight actors play multiple roles. This required the design team to create costumes, sets and props that allow the performers to transition quickly, sometimes within the same scene, while giving actors the opportunity to explore multiple characters.
Anderson said although it is a challenge, this aspect of the production is one of her favorite parts.
“The gender fluidity is really surprising, but also very natural. They're not playing at the other sides of themselves, they just happen to be this gender playing another gender,” Anderson said. “That lovely fluidity just works really well.”
The production not only celebrates Austen’s work but also marks one of the final productions for many third-year MFA students in the Department of Theatre, Drama and Contemporary Dance, making the project both emotional and meaningful.
“I think we, as our last production before we graduate, are just very excited to put our best work out there,” Francisco said. “We’re super excited to show what we’ve learned in the last three years.”
The show will be accompanied by the two-day “Pride and Prejudice Showcase Weekend” from Feb. 13–14. The weekend includes a Pop-Up Jane Austen Exhibition at the Lilly Library and a talk by Jane Austen scholar Juliette Wells on Feb. 13, along with a pre-show discussion panel moderated by Lederman on Feb. 14.
For more information or to buy tickets, prospective attendees can visit the Department of Theatre, Drama, and Contemporary Dance website.
