Jane Austen 250

Sunday afternoon’s ‘A Regency Entertainment’ at the Guildhall was a hugely successful celebration of Jane Austen, 250 years after her birth. Regency dancing, a rehearsed reading of episodes from “Pride and Prejudice”, and period accurate afternoon tea transported me to early 1800s polite society, while the raffle and audience participation added an entertaining twist, making the event extremely accessible.

The performance opened with a display of Regency style dancing by Lichfield Regency Dance Group, an excellent way to set the scene of the period. Lichfield Festival Friends offered a collaborative opportunity to a local group to demonstrate their unique passion and widen its appeal through audience interaction. A group of eager volunteers joined the exquisitely costumed group in a progressive dance, which was in equal parts endearing and inspirational. The musical accompaniments, each introduced by members of the group, reminded me of soundtracks to ball scenes in the 2005 movie adaptation of Pride and Prejudice, as did the flamboyant costumes.

The second half, dramatised excerpts from Pride and Prejudice, brought Austen’s work to life in an original and yet loyal way. Of necessity the text was heavily abridged, concentrating on the most dramatic and most humorous moments of the story, and only 6 characters, plus a narrator. The casting was impeccable, with Maureen George bringing out Mrs Bennet’s lovability and Adrienne Swallow’s incredible on stage shift from her Narrator to Lady Catherine de Bourgh sending ripples of laughter throughout the audience. David Titley’s cameo as the pompous Mr Collins was a delight, and Stephen Brunton as Mr Bennet displayed an appropriate weary patience to his wife and deep affection for his daughter.
The heart of the story is, of course, Darcy and Elizabeth, and Hannah and Robin Lewitt delivered a charming interpretation of their romantic banter and eventual reconciliation, with Hannah presenting a particularly feisty and bold Lizzie. Robin Lewitt’s Darcy was easy to sympathise with, helping the audi ence’s investment in his romance with Lizzie, and his gentlemanly mannerisms had me internally screaming at her utter obliviousness. It was clear how special the project was to the whole cast from their excellent characterisation and onstage rapport.

Overall, the afternoon was a wonderful tribute to one of the most influential female writers, one that, as a theatre enthusiast and excellent dancer, Austen certainly would have appreciated. Together, the entertainment and refreshments created a temporary time capsule of the Regency era in the Guildhall, allowing the audience to connect with the iconic tale of Elizabeth Bennet over 200 years on.

Young Critic Amy S