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Review: Plied and Prejudice - Woodward Productions

 
Written by Jake Goodall

Dearest Gentle Reader, Pride and Prejudice hath made its way to Brisbane, but not in the way you might expect. This isn't your typical high-society affair. The cast and crew present the classic tale in an entirely new light, featuring a different cast member getting inebriated Every. Single. Night!

Adapted by the ingenious Matthew Semple, this version of Pride and Prejudice isn't for the faint of heart or for your grandparents. Laden with crude jokes, coarse language, and uproarious hilarity, Semple had the audience laughing from start to finish! Combined with Dash Kruck's masterful direction, this production is a match made in comedic heaven. Kruck leaned into the farcical nature of the script, perfecting the tone for this unique adaptation. The performers' blocking was meticulously calculated and impressive, especially with the use of a thrust stage that ensured the audience felt intimately connected to the characters—a challenging feat executed brilliantly.

Set and Costume Design by Penny Challen was possibly the crowning glory of this production. Challen created a world that looked like it was plucked straight from the pages of Austen's book, yet with a whimsical, cartoonish aesthetic that extended from the walls to the audience seating and all the way to the performers' costumes. Challen's design is a prime example of how ingenious performance design can complement a story perfectly.

Lighting Design by Geoff Squires and Sound Design by Brady Watkins were simple yet highly effective. Squires' use of lighting to highlight different sections of the stage to focus the audience’s attention was a brilliant design choice. His lighting work allowed Challen's design to truly shine, creating a seamless blend of visual elements. Watkins brought this classic tale into the 21st century with a sound design that featured modern songs, helping the audience to implicitly understand the story and emotions at play.

The cohesive troupe of performers was delectably excellent. On opening night, our 'Plied' performer was Stephen Hirst, who played Mr. Darcy and various other characters. It was often difficult to distinguish between what was real and what was acted out when things went wrong, which speaks volumes about the performers' skills. If it was real, the performers had a great time; if not, they certainly can act! Hirst's portrayal of Mr. Darcy played into the tropes and stereotypes of the character to the audience's delight.

Joining Hirst was Brigitte Freewe as Elizabeth Bennet and others, Tomas Pociluiko as Collins, Wickham, and others, Chloe Stojauovic as Jane and others, and Juliette Milue as Lady Catherine de Bourgh and others. All these performers are highly skilled in improvisation and comedy, providing a fantastic night of performance and acting for anyone in attendance.

Plied and Prejudice is for people who love the story, people who hate the story, and people who just want to see performers get drunk and act. It is a MUST-SEE performance in the heart of Brisbane, playing for a limited time only! Closing on the 18th of August, do NOT miss this one. Tickets can be purchased here!

 

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