New PRIDE AND PREJUDICE Adaptation Makes Bow at Rosebank Theatre

A brand new adaptation of Jane Austen's novel PRIDE AND PREJUDICE, written by actor-screenwriter Matthew Dylan Roberts, will make its bow at the Rosebank Theatre in Cape Town tonight, 24 April, for a month long run through 23 May. Faithfully adapted from the novel by, this version retains much of the original's charm and pithy dialogue, and proves just why classics will always endure. Based on one of English literature's best loved tales, this promises to be an original and entertaining piece of theatre not to be missed.

Edgar Crag, Charlotte, Emily and the other servants of Pemberley Estate are in a state of jovial carousal. The master and mistress are away in town on business and, of course, when the cat's away the mice play. After some lusty singing down in the kitchen, they decide to partake in an age-old tradition, which is of course to put on a play for their own amusement. They debate on the genre of the piece. Some feel it should be Commedia del Arte, others Shakespeare, whilst young Emily thinks it should be a love story or an adventure. Edgar reminds her that love is an adventure and they should look no further than the master and mistress of the house. And so unfolds the retelling of Mr Darcy's and Elizabeth's romance, with the clumsy kitchen staff using utensils, kitchenware and ordinary household goods to hilarious effect.

The question one asks whenever a classic is staged, is what the relevance, importance or need to perform a text written so long ago is. In this case, Austen's protagonist, Elizabeth Bennett, who challenges the conventions and manners of her time, is timeless in her quest to stay true to her character amongst the 'follies and inconsistencies' of her peers. The modern women who might break out of her mould still faces a certain prejudice regarding marriage and traditional conventions. This version probes the choices of Ms Bennett and with a cast of only 5, including Hilda Cronje as Elizabeth, Cameron Robertson as Darcy, Nathan Lynn as Mrs Bennet, Dominique Maher as Jane and Matthew Roberts as everybody else, the novel is recreated and staged in the intimate setting of the Rosebank Theatre. PRIDE AND PREJUDICE is directed by Kseniya Filinova-Bruton.

PRIDE AND PREJUDICE runs on Wednesdays - Saturdays from 24 April - 23 May at 7pm. Tickets cost R120, with a concession price of R60 for pensioners and students. Block bookings for scholars can be made at R50 per pupil. Bookings can be made through Webtickets or by calling Liz on 072 316 6133. Block bookings can only be reserved by by contacting Liz.

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