Any contemporary woman feeling the pressure of expectations to work, raise a family, maintain a youthful appearance and dazzle her acquaintances with social and artistic graces is sure to identify with Jane Austen’s comment, spoken through Elizabeth Bennet: “I never saw such capacity, and taste, and application and elegance united.”
Nevertheless, in the Denver Center Theatre Company’s production of “Pride and Prejudice,” we are left to marvel at the accomplished Elizabeth, who comes tantalizingly close to imbuing all these refinements, even in overcoming her own version of the titular shortcomings. This, along with the sisterly camaraderie and coquettishness that Austen lavishes upon the proceedings, tastefully and wittily wrapped in director Bruce K. Sevy’s staging, make for a delightfully thoughtful and entertaining evening.
Translucent in both detail and emotional arc, engaging in the heat of battle and fetching in tête-u-têtes, Nisi Sturgis’ Elizabeth is a woman for all Georgian seasons. Her milieu includes the complications of being the second eldest daughter among five, with no brother to whom her father’s modest estate can be passed.
Austen takes this daunting chauvinistic law and turns it into a comedic premise for parading a series of pompous, conniving and egomaniacal men and their excruciating marriage proposals before us. It’s a drier farce than the suitors’ contest for Portia’s hand in “The Merchant of Venice,” but equally laughable.
First there’s the florid and smarmy parson, Collins, resplendent in commedia dell’arte undertones by David Ivers. Then there’s the malleable but upright Bingley, a marvel of restraint and propriety in Steven Cole Hughes’ characterization. Next, we meet Jay Stratton’s slippery and ingratiating Wickham, and finally, Rick Stear’s reticent and thoughtful Mr. Darcy, who overcomes his own pride and prejudice to win Elizabeth’s heart.
Elizabeth’s family is equally challenging. Her kindly, laissez-faire father, Mr. Bennet, is played by a warm, professorial Larry Paulsen. Her controlling, unmannerly mother, Mrs. Bennet, is a character out of a comic opera, Jeanne Paulsen. Her romantic and mild older sister, Jane, is an ethereal Brenda Withers while Kristen Sieh’s is the eloquent, bookish sister Mary. And the two spoiled, impetuous younger sisters, Kitty and Lydia, get animated treatment from Jennifer Le Blanc and Lori Prince.
Three other women play crucial roles in the Bennets’ quest for estate and marital satisfaction: the snobbish Miss Bingley, a coy Ailish Riggs; Kathleen M. Brady’s liberated and disarming Mrs. Gardiner; and Jill Tanner’s imperious Lady Catherine de Bourgh.
Vicki Smith’s fluid set evokes both the elegant interiors and the bucolic landscapes of the period. The stylish froth is topped off by David Kay Mickelsen’s finely detailed and tasteful costumes, refined lighting, sound and music design, and a couple of amusing period dances.
Director Sevy punctuates Austen’s wit by cleverly employing the upper reaches of the backdrop for imaginative hyperbolic commentary. Jon Jory’s well-crafted script is almost entirely made up of Austen’s own, remarkably progressive words.
Bob Bows also reviews theater for Variety, for KUVO/89.3 FM and for his website, . He can be reached at BBows@ColoradoDrama.com.
“Pride and Prejudice”
Presented by Denver Center Theatre Company. Written by Jane Austen, adapted Jon Jory. Directed by Bruce K. Sevy. Starring Nisi Sturgis, Jeanne Paulsen, Larry Paulsen, David Ivers, Brenda Withers, Steven Cole Hughes, Rick Stear, Jay Stratton, Jill Tanner, Kathleen M. Brady. 2 hours, 40 minutes. Through Dec. 15. 6:30 p.m. Mondays through Thursdays, 7:30 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays, 1:30 p.m. Saturdays. $31-$48. 303-893-4100, 1-800-641-1222 or
Theater 3more
“Titus Andronicus! The Musical!” While most everyone else is offering wholesome holiday fare, the irreverent folks at Buntport are bringing back for the third and (they say) final time their brilliantly dumb creation that turns Shakespeare’s bloodiest tragedy into his funniest comedy — with only a tote board of death and a broken-down Club Wagon for a set. 8 p.m. Thursdays-Saturdays, 3 p.m. Dec. 9 and 16, at 717 Lipan St. $12-$15 (720-946-1388 or ).
“Drive My Coche.” Jesse Borrego (Nurse Javier on “E.R.”) is back for one weekend only performing Roy Conboy’s play about a Chicano man reflecting on his summer before shipping out to Vietnam. 8:05 p.m. today and Saturday, 3 and 7 p.m. Sunday at El Centro Su Teatro, 4725 High St. $15-$18 (303-296-0219 or suteatro.org).
“A December Suite.” The persnickety Fitzenstarts Sisters and their rambunctious music students stage a winter recital where backstage blunders give way to on-stage triumphs. Music includes Tchaikovsky, Vivaldi and Shostakovich. Nondenominational. 7 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays, 2 p.m. Sundays through Dec. 30 at Crossroads at Five Points Theatre, 2590 Washington St. $8-$10 (303-832-0929, ). – John Moore
This week’s podcast
Running Lines with … Hannah Duggan: John Moore talks with one of the ensemble stars of the Buntport Theatre’s “Titus Andronicus: The Musical.” Listen by
