A winter downpour soaked Perth on Wednesday evening, but not even torrential rain could dampen the atmosphere at Plied & Prejudice’s opening night.
We trekked through the rain like Lizzie Bennett on her way to Netherfield (just flashing my fan credentials), braving the storm to reach to His Majesty’s Theatre for an irreverently boozy retelling of Jane Austen’s revered classic. With one actor getting ‘plied’ with spirits for the show, even die-hard fans couldn’t predict what was going to happen. I certainly wouldn’t have predicted the amount of ‘ball’ jokes that had us chortling through groans.
The chaos of five actors embodying over twenty characters was a delightful whirlwind, made all the more hilarious by rapid-fire hat tosses and jacket swaps happening mid-line. Kudos must go to Patrick Gandin who displayed his range by playing all three of the younger Bennett sisters and the brooding Mr Darcy, sometimes in the same scene.
Piled and Prejudice. Photography by DZuks.
Ayesha Gibson took the lead role not only as Lizzie Bennett but also as the designated drunk actor on opening night, taking six shots of tequila at the start of the show and continuing to drink throughout. The power given to select audience members to make her drink more had everyone laughing, including the cast, although Ayesha managed to continue the show with the utmost professionalism…mostly.
Lucy Goodrick played the ditzy Jane Bennett and the bitchy Caroline Bingley with aplomb, somehow managing to keep a straight face in the most ridiculous of situations.
Also swapping between characters at lightning speed was RP van der Westhuizen, playing Mr Bennett, Mr Bingley, Mr Collins and Mr Wickham. His Mr Collins was as funny as he was disgusting, and I won’t be forgetting his lecherous walk any time soon.
Jess Lally, a Perth local of Bogan Shakespeare fame, showed off her improv skills and dominated the stage as Lady Catherine de Bourgh. Her…costume…had us all in hysterics, which is all I’ll give away about that.
The costumes in general were fun and fabulous, done in an illustration style by designer Penny Challen that matched her equally brightly coloured set. The Andy Warhol-meets-Regency design not only embodied a cheeky tone but also facilitated mischief, as the majority of the action occurred on a runway amongst the audience. Some lucky audience members – the ruling elite – were even positioned on stage on a plush divan, right in the thick of it. With only six metres of runway to make everything happen in, the tight direction by Ian Good kept the chaos of this small space running like clockwork.
Piled and Prejudice. Photography by DZuks.
Obsessive Austenites will be relieved to know that Matthew Semple’s script pays the utmost respect to the source material, while taking any opportunity for an anachronistic dance-off or gratifying wet-t-shirt scene (whatever you’re imagining, it’s even better). The cast were clearly having fun amongst the chaos, taking suggestions from the audience and pushing each other into delightfully tricky situations with their multiple characters.
A mention has to go to the audience members who got involved in the action (if you’re allergic to audience participation we were pretty safe one row back from the front and still had a good view), the lively atmosphere meant that they really committed, to hilarious effect.
Thanks to the first two weeks completely selling out the run has been extended until the 28th September, so you have plenty more chances to get blotto with the Bennetts. Plied & Prejudice is a riotous romp that have you in stiches over your drink – whether you’re an Austen fan or total newbie!
Plied and Prejudice is on at His Majesty’s Theatre, Downstairs at The Maj from 18 July – 28 September.