Pride and Prejudice* (*sort of): (West End Edition)

by Isobel McArthur

This unique take on Jane Austen's beloved novel is an adaptation like no other, drawing on over two hundred years of romantic pop history, and featuring five young women with a story to tell.
You might have seen them before, emptying the chamber pots and sweeping ash from the grate; the overlooked and the undervalued making sure those above stairs find their happy ending.
Of course, these women have always been running the show – after all, 'You can't have a whirlwind romance without clean bedding' – but now the servants are also playing every part. Let the ruthless match-making begin!
Isobel McArthur's acclaimed Pride and Prejudice* (*sort of) was first produced in 2018 by theatre company Blood of the Young at the Tron Theatre, Glasgow, before a UK tour the following year, produced by the two companies and the Royal Lyceum Theatre Edinburgh. It transferred to the Criterion Theatre in London's West End in October 2021.
It is a truth universally acknowledged, that an amateur company in want of an irreverent all-female adaptation of a literary classic to perform, need look no further.
'Isobel McArthur's roistering all-female pop musical adaptation remains unexpectedly true to the novel's familiar twin themes of hidden passions and economic hardships... There are laughs aplenty, both period and modern, as the cast exchange roles and genders at break-neck speed... It would have won the approval of Austen herself' - The Stage
Frankly sensational... the shocking truth of Isobel McArthur's smart, riotously funny five-woman adaptation is how faithful it is to Austen while being gloriously entertaining' - Variety
'A total blast of hilarity from start to finish... sticks faithfully to Austen's brilliant story while opening it up into a riot of fun, colour and mischief-making. It is dramatic re-invention at its most enjoyable and if Austen aficionados don't enjoy it just as much as Austen virgins, I'll eat my pink Regency bonnet' - WhatsOnStage
'Unfettered joy from start to finish' - Herald
'A raucous and transgressive, yet surprisingly faithful, adaptation... the gags are plentiful' - Guardian
'Clever, funny, feminist, and not even shy, in the end, of a few powerful moments of true romance' - Scotsman

Genres: Plays, Fiction, Theatre, Humor

139 pages, Kindle Edition

First published September 1, 2019

Reviews

[Doug · Rating 4 out of 5]

Janeite purists will be clutching their pearls (liberal sprinklings of the F bomb herein!), but this free adaptation of her masterpiece is definitely a hoot. The conceit of having all the characters played by just six female actors doubling and tripling roles is quite clever, as is the interpolation of contemporary songs sung karaoke-style. It must be chaotic madness on stage, and I'd love to see it performed.

[Moon Ann · Rating 5 out of 5]

I can't even begin to explain how much I love this play. I've seen it 6 times in the west end now and it never fails to bring so much joy.
McArthur's grasp on the story and comedy is genius, the use of cultural aspects brought in by the original actors bring a level of wit and humour never seen before in this classic.
The original story is stuck to for the most part, but it's told by the integral heroines of the centuries romance literature - the servants.
The absolute bliss and comedy of the production translates so well to word as well, making the script such a good, easy read.

[Nadja · Rating 5 out of 5]

A brilliant play for every Austen lover! I've had the luck of seeing it live on stage at the West End.

Jane Austen July 2022: 4. Read a retelling of a Jane Austen book OR a work of historical fiction set in Jane Austen’s time.

[Eliza · Rating 5 out of 5]

i would watch this play for the rest of my life on repeat! and i am not prone to exaggerating!!

[alailiander · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a bit of a cheat. As a read, this isn't 5 stars, but as a performance, it is about 12 stars. So, we're averaging out here. I wanted to read this after recently seeing the play - there were a few jokes I missed due to the uproarious laughter - and a few I just wanted to reread/remember, so bought the book treatment. Obviously, it lacks a certain sparkle on the page after you've seen it performed by a stellar cast of multiple-talented women. But, still, fun read.

Of all the many, many treatments of P&P I've read/watched/listened to - this might be the best one yet. It was so funny that I could hardly catch a breath and it felt true to the source material without slavishly following it down to the set piece and (way more importantly) without missing the point.

I think it occasionally sacrificed romance for laughs - but I don't think that's something that Miss Austen would mind. She got satire more than we give her credit for, after all.

[Milly Gribben · Rating 4 out of 5]

Gutted that I missed this when it came to Leeds. Proper belly laugh levels of funny.

[Katherine Cowley · Rating 5 out of 5]

An incredible adaptation of Pride and Prejudice. It makes lovely departures from the original--the story is told by the servants, who don all the character's costumes throughout the show and give us helpful commentary (for instance, when Darcy and Elizabeth run into each other at Pemberley, one of the characters keeps hinting that he should jump into the lake for a swim because it will make him look sexy). The play is irreverent, playful, employs profanity to modernize the language and show the depth of feeling in a new way that makes us pay attention to it differently. Also, did I mention karaoke? The characters perform karaoke throughout, using modern songs, often instead of dance scenes. So yes, if this is ever performed within a few hundred miles of me, I will go see it.

[Xanth.Kath · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this play so much I went to see it 3 times when it came to my city! It's so funny, and so lovingly true to character even with its own spins on Austen. I can't say much more without spoilers! It also has advice on how to perform it (which I would absolutely use if I had friends willing to act out a karaokey, sweary, heartfelt, lovely rendition of p&p with me, alas not)

[Emma Amos · Rating 4 out of 5]

Saw this production at Bristol Old Vic and it was a hilarious play. Beautifully played and a glorious interpretation of a classic novel. Great fun on the page, but really comes alive on the stage.

[Morven · Rating 5 out of 5]

The best play I've seen! Wish I could see it again. Would definitely recommend seeing it if you can or reading the play. Its bloody fantastic

[Daisy Leather · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was absolute GENIUS. BRILLIANT.

Hilarious. Every bit as witty as the source material and made me howl with laughter.

I absolutely love the framing device using the servants and having them narrate some of the action. I LOVED the multi-roling, the inclusion of the music, the swearing and the breaking of the fourth wall.

The treatment of Mary was also a stroke of genius - again, not too far away from the book, but dealt with in such a funny way. 'Oh, for God's sake Mary, are you hell-bent on sabotage?'
And the fact it ends with her singing 'young hearts run free'...

And Mr Bennet being played as a chair... need I say more?

And Elizabeth singing 'you're so vain' to Darcy. Brilliant.

My favourite interaction was when Darcy returned to Pemberley whilst Elizabeth was looking around... 'I mean, you're very dry, sir. [...] it's as if... you haven't just emerged from a lake.' 🤣

Honestly. I adored this. What a cool adaptation!

[Kay · Rating 4 out of 5]

STOP this is so good... even just reading to myself, i couldn't stop giggling. the jokes land well. im not a fan of jukebox musicals, but even without the songs, the story beats are there; it's a really faithful adaption with a touch of modernisation.
charlotte yearning for elizabeth is huge brain.

[Samantha Daynes · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not my favorite Jane Austen play adaptation, but truly a joy to read. So fun and exuberant. I actually went through with colored pencils so that I could differentiate between the five actresses and the roles they played. I would've loved to see it live.

[Mrs K · Rating 5 out of 5]

Witty take in a classic

Innovative perspective on a true classic. Reading this make me exited to watch the play where all of the action adds to the comical interactions with the small cast.

[ns · Rating 4 out of 5]

pls god let me do good in my drama exam
i actually got sad handing this book back to my drama teacher… all my tabs💔💔💔all my notes💔💔💔i swear if someone rips them out if they choose this book i’ll scream

[Cat Moreschi · Rating 3 out of 5]

i think i would like it more if i saw it - some of the jokes just didn’t come across properly in print format

[Monica]

Class