It’s clear from the audience, I’m far from alone in looking forward to the next instalment from this wacky pair, who’ve made a career of parodying literary favourites.

If you’re thinking, that sounds a little high-brow for me, don’t let that put you off – it really isn’t. It’s clever, well observed humour, that’s also gloriously silly, with plenty of visual and physical comedy, and as many popular cultural references as there are literary ones. Remember Colin Firth emerging from the lake as Mr Darcy? Thought so.

LipService choose well-known classics, like Pride and Prejudice and Rebecca, which have seen umpteen adaptations across several mediums, and manage to inject something left-field, getting us to look at what have become solid parts of our cultural heritage afresh, with plenty of laughs along the way.

The title itself explains the show. It opens with Sue getting down to writing, only to be interrupted by her dad, asking if she’ll go shopping or explain how to work his ipad. Going into a day-dream about how female writers from previous generations were distracted from their craft, the action moves to Jane Austen whose distraction leaves Mr Darcy dangling. And so, he goes looking for other famous women writers in search of a plot, encountering Daphne du Maurier, Beatrix Potter and Elizabeth Gaskell on his travels.

The sketches are skilfully intertwined. Large, beautifully quilted screens (produced from quilters groups across the country) are used to shield quick fire changes, as well as add to the general Play School feel of piece. Although the set appears simple, the pair cleverly intertwine video, puppetry and a whole series of costume changes to create numerous characters, including an overloaded internet cloud with no end of secrets.

Part of its joy is making you think about the creative process in a playful way – what if Beatrix Potter has called her famous rabbit, Philip? Another large part is seeing two talented performers whose friendship began as drama students at Bristol University, and whose genuine warmth and rapport is the secret of all great comedy partnerships.

In all, it’s a playful, feel-good show that has the audience laughing out-loud from start to finish.

Mr Darcy Loses The Plot is at The Lowry from 6-9 September 2017.

The post Mr Darcy Loses The Plot appeared first on Quays Life.

Although in recent years that probably has more to do with TV and big screen adaptations than with the book itself.

This stage adaptation by Simon Reade was commissioned by Regent’s Park Theatre in 2013 to celebrate 200 years of the book’s publication. After two centuries we can expect that the interpretation will take a slightly different spin. And here Reade has ditched much of the quintessential English reserve in favour of a romcom theme.

The result is a lively production that gallops along at pace with plenty of laughs along the way. This works well for the outspoken heroine, Elizabeth Bennet (a sparky and intelligently judged performance by Tafline Steen) and brings life to many of the supporting characters making them attractive roles for Matthew Kelly and Felicity Montagu who head the bill as Elizabeth’s parents Mr and Mrs Bennet.

As the fussy mother consumed with marrying off her five daughters, often to the most unsuitable of suitors, Montagu brings a dramatic force to the role that is impossible for the audience to ignore.

The gentle patience of Matthew Kelly’s Mr Bennet provides her with a good foil and he is able to reduce the house to laughter with a mere look.

Unfortunately, Benjamin Dilloway’s Mr Darcy is the only character to suffer from this light-hearted touch. His poor character is already carrying the weight of the Colin Firth factor, who seems to be etched on our brains forever as the one-and-only  Darcy.

While Dilloway has the stature and presence to carry off the part, the wordiness of this interpretation leaves little room for the intense emotions of what is left unsaid, and even less opportunity for the character’s brooding to breathe. What we are left with is an interpretation of the character as grumpy and awkward rather than smoldering with passion.

There are too many good performances in this tight-run production to name each individually, but Kirsty Rider deserves attention for an outstanding debut for her nuanced performance as Miss Caroline Bingley.

In all, although perhaps not one for the purists, this is a wonderful, entertaining evening that plays out on Max Jones’ beautifully-designed revolve set and is a joy to watch.

Pride and Prejudice is at The Lowry from 11-15 October 2016.

The post Pride and Prejudice appeared first on Quays Life.