There are holiday shows and then there are Holiday shows.
“Miss Bennet: Christmas at Pemberley ”
is most likely one not seen on the holiday circuit, at least not in San Diego,
or for that matter in Carlsbad, that is until now.
Set just two years after Jane Austen’s "Pride and Prejudice” ends
this charming little confection by Lauren Gunderson and Margot Melcon currently
on stage at New Village Arts Theatre in Carlsbad through Dec.23rd is
a win- win for San Diego audiences.
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| (L to R) Amara Young, Nadia Guevera, McKenna Foot and Jessi Little |
As the sequel to Jane Austen’s novel of manners it takes on
‘the subject of ‘Mary’, Jane’s bookworm and barely seen nor talked about shy sister. Played
with charm, grace and awkwardness by Nadia Guevara (Associate Artistic
Director) as Mary, Gunderson and Melcon’s little gem is just what the doctor ordered
for this holiday season and we tip our hats to Artistic Director Kristianne
Kurner for bringing us this San Diego premiere.
Steered with an all knowing eye by Kurner (her 99th) the production brings out the marvelous
interactions and play of four siblings all assembled at Elizabeth (a charming
Jessi Little) and Darcy’s (solid Timothy L. Cabal) estate in Pemberley for the
Christmas celebrations.
All this done with a contemporary feminist slant, as the siblings in Austen's play take center stage with grace and purpose. It made my heart sing.
All this done with a contemporary feminist slant, as the siblings in Austen's play take center stage with grace and purpose. It made my heart sing.
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| Sittichai Chaiyahat, Timothy l. Cabal Amara Young and Jessi Little |
It is here as well that the sight of a Christmas tree (inside
the home) was a new phenomenon, as it takes on a character of its own. It was
fun to watch the expressions as each character had a similar reaction to the
presence of the tree.
The sisters begin to arrive one by one and two by two: Mary is the first to arrive. Pregnant Jane (charming Amara Young) and her husband Bingley (“The Boy Who
Danced on Air” Sittotchai Chaiyahatt,
was a close friend to Darcy) follow. Younger sister, the high- spirited, free
wheeling and flirtatious, to camouflage her unhappiness, Lydia Wickham (McKenna
Foote), whose marriage to Charles Wickham is the bane of her existence, arrives
in a flurry.
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| Nadia Guevara and Garter Piggee |
Thrown into the mix, the equally nerdy, book-wormish, shy,
studious and lacking in social skills Lord Arthur de Bourgh (Carter Piggee),
DeBourgh a friend of Darcy’s arrives in the throw of things. He just inherited a large estate and has no idea
what to do with it. He feels a bit out of place at the Darcy home, that is until he meets up Mary in the library room where they talk of travel and books with ease.
After all the guests arrive and the niceties, hugs all around and Christmas tree talks go back and fourth, the beginning of an attraction is in the air and thickens between Mary and Arthur, who don’t know what to do with it.
Playwrights Gunderson and Melcon with Kurner guiding, these
two socially inept, lonely, yes lonely, young people are drawn together first
by their love of books, knowledge and the sharing of truth and then voila,
love.
Love for those in the know is elusive so when Anne de Bourgh
(Michelle Marie Trester “Romeo, Romeo and Juliet) bursts into the Darcy home
demanding Arthur return at once with her to the estate owned by her late mother
and willed to Arthur, well, things become a bit hectic. She demands Arthur was
promised in marriage to her by her domineering late mother and will not concede otherwise. Ms. Trester is a
force with which to be reckoned as she dominates poor Arthur to almost
submission to her demands.
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| Jessi Little, Amara Young (seated) Nadia Guevara, Timothy L. Cabal and Sittichai Chaiyahat |
Lydia’s restlessness becomes a minor problem as well for Mary
and Arthur when Lydia intercepts a letter from each to the other. It’s quite
predictable; you’ll figure it out, they did, but for the while, it was a nail
bitter watching the trio go back and forth, in and out of romance.
This is what makes the world go round and this production
will do that to you. McKenna Foote is filled with that restless energy as she
skillfully creates mayhem for the would be lovers.
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| McKenna Foote |
As mentioned earlier, Ms. Guevara (“Secret Garden”, “Cloud
Tectonics”) is an absolute gem as Mary. With specs needing a little nudge and
adjustment on her nose (both she and Piggee wear specs in the production and
both are lefties) and delicate features,
she seems to float on air whenever she moves. Her insistence on being accepted
for who she is not what anyone else thinks she should be, is my kind of
woman.
Elisa Benzoni designed the smart looking period costumes;
sound designer Melanie Chen Cole coordinated the sound and Nina Gilbert the piano
pieces played by Mary to perfection, and hats off to dialect coach Gerilyn Brault.
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| Cast of Miss Bennet: Christmas at Pemberley |
The set, designed by Kristianne features a smartly designed
sitting room with a large picture window looking to the outside with a map of
the world. Bookshelves surround a small library room where Arthur and Mary
share their love of books and conversation.
The entire frame of the stage is a large heart made of books fastened
together with a rod with a map of the world as their oyster.
If I told you that all’s well that ends well’ that ends well
believe me. Not only does it end well, all parts in between bodes well for all
concerned.
This is two thumbs up must see.
See you at the theatre.
Dates: Through Dec. 23rd
Organization: New Village Arts Theatre
Phone: 760-433-7245
Production Type: Comedy
Where: 2787 State Street, Carlsbad Village, Carlsbad, CA
Ticket Prices: $33.00-$36.00
Web: newvillagearts.org
Photo: Daren Scott
