Pride and Prejudice* (*Sort Of)

I am not, and have never been, a fan of Jane Austen - in fact I have never managed to finish a book of hers and rarely even managed a whole film adaptation - there's something about the characters and the society of that era that I can't appreciate. Having said that, I was looking forward to seeing this production as I hoped it might change my mind a bit. 

This is not Pride and Prejudice the book by any means. Told by five excellent actor/musicians, this is the original story of course, but told in a modern, clever and funny way. Plenty of modern songs, jokes and quick changes move the plot along but I would have preferred the initial conceit of it being told by the unseen servants to have been more fully explored. I also felt that it was a bit stretched and would have suited a smaller auditorium better despite the amazing energy brought to it by the actors. It felt a bit like an hugely successful fringe production pulled a bit thin to fill a full evening slot. 

In the end, this is a clever piece, with plenty of really funny moments brilliantly delivered. I'm sure it will delight and amuse those who love the book but, for me, I was entertained without becoming fully engage. Your mileage may vary ;-)