You’ll struggle to find any male actors, BBC politeness or sense of decorum in Pride and Prejudice* (*sort of)… but there’s bags of attitude










Pride and Prejudice* (*sort of)

Criterion Theatre London                    Up to April 17th, on tour 2hrs 30mins

Rating:

Wuthering Heights

Bristol Old Vic                                                                 On Tour until May 28, 3hrs

Rating:

It’s not about Colin Firth with his wet shirt on BBC Pride And Prejudice. This show comes with an all-female cast and bags of attitude, in a version of the love story that’s part Jane Austen, part karaoke night.

Isobel McArthur’s feminist revamp kicks off with downstairs servants in Marigolds. They then enact the plot of the people they’re slaving for.

Meghan Tyler looks very Northern Irish Elizabeth Bennet. She’s dead stroppy, eats Frosties and swears like a trooper – as you would if you were forced to marry any old bore with money.

This show comes with an all-female cast and bags of attitude, starring (L-R) Christina Gordon, Tori Burgess, Isobel McArthur, Hannah Jarrett-Scott and Meghan Tyler

The show features an all-female cast with a lot of attitude. It stars (L-R:) Christina Gordon and Tori Burgess as well as Isobel McArthur and Hannah Jarrett Scott.

McArthur is a good actor in her love story with Mr Darcy. 

Lady Catherine de Bourgh, the formidable Lady Catherine de Bourgh, sings Lady In Red by Chris de Burgh. While Mrs Bennet can be seen in front of you, Mr Bennet sits behind a book in a chair. 

This show is free of male actors and BBC politeness.

You could say the same of Emily Brontë’s Wuthering Heights, which gets a makeover in Emma Rice’s wild and woolly production. The action – which needs trimming – takes place under leaden skies. 

The show features Rice’s DIY style, including puppets, props and a multi-tasking cast. 

Moments of humor (produced by Katy Owen) are found amid all the passion, revenge, and brooding. Ash Hunter plays the abusive Heathcliff and Lucy McCormick is Catherine. Kate Bush would love this. 

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