Pride and Prejudice (Primary Stages)

See it if You enjoy non-traditional takes on classics, like farce and silliness, can forgive slightly cynical perspective on love and marriage.

Don't see it if you are immune to the real creativity behind a low budget production such as this, with great acting and ingenious stagecraft from f. POV.

See it if you'd like an entertaining adaptation of a great novel.

Don't see it if you do not like tinkering with classics.

See it if you enjoy great actors, especially the men, playing multiple gender bending roles, quick changes, pop music, & a love story (sort of).

Don't see it if u r not open to a different interpretation of Austen. Although it was fun much of the time, I didn't care about the characters.

Also Lively but tiresome.

See it if want to be entertained and have any enjoyable time watching a Jane Austin play.

Don't see it if want to see a serious version of a Jane Austin play!

See it if You want to see a horrible interpretation of Pride and Prejudice. If you like cheap laughs this show is for you.

Don't see it if You hate long shows where the plot goes nowhere. Horrible interpretation of this novel/movie.

Also We almost left at intermission. We wanted to see it act two would be better and it failed miserably.... Read more Read less

See it if Fiasco's and Bedlam's trunk show stagings of Shakespeare delight you and you're open to the same approach for a Jane Austen adaptation.

Don't see it if you insist that Fitzwilliam Darcy look like a dashing young Laurence Olivier or a messy-haired Colin Firth.

See it if you like slapstick or physical comedy (there's a bit w/ a chair that's roll-on-the-floor hysterical) & don't mind your Austen untraditional.

Don't see it if you don't like the above! Also, see my, er, "see also" for a pretty strong caveat on the gender politics of the double casting.

Also I'm struggling with this show, because it really is a mixed bag. 25% was hysterical, 50% was funny, and 25% fell flat for me. In particular, the gender politics of some of the double-casting is... not great. All of the men play women at various points in the show, and some of it is perfectly fine (Caroline Bingley and Mrs Bennet, for example). However, the show should have put more thought into some of the jokes that it's making at the expense of the characters of Mary Bennet and Charlotte Lucas instead of going for the easy laughs. The production gets a lot of mileage out of these two characters being ugly and/or scary women, in a way that's borderline transphobic, given that there are cis male actors playing those roles. I don't think this was the intention of this double-casting, and the male actors are great in all of their roles, but I think the playwright and director ought to have thought through the unintended ramifications of the way they've written/directed these characters.... Read more Read less

See it if You appreciate parodies/adaptations. See it if you love Kate Hamill or if you don't yet know her. Wee it if you love fabulous acting. See it

Don't see it if There is no reason not to see this play.

Also Kate Hamill is an amazing writer and actor. She consistently delivers very clever adaptations of Victorian novels that make meaningful comments about modern society. She is joined in this wonderful play by an immensely talented troup, some of whom have classical training and experience. This play is one of the best shows on the boards in the city and should not be missed.... Read more Read less

See it if You want a fresh take on a classic. You admire Kate Hamill's adaptations. You like talented actors playing multiple roles.

Don't see it if You are wedded to a conventional version of a classic. You prefer the serious to the screwball.

Also I'm a fan of Kate Hamill's work and I enjoy fresh versions of classics. Although I didn't feel that this was quite as good as her sublime Sense & Sensibility and that a few bits didn't quite click (pantsing Darcy; making it clear that Jane is too diffident), it was still witty and enjoyable. And those actors are topnotch!... Read more Read less

See it if you are a fan of the original story, enjoyed Kate Hamill's previous adaptations, like superb physical comedy and ensemble-driven productions

Don't see it if Austen stories aren't your thing or you dislike quirky adaptations of classic works

Also Most of the positive points I gave this productions are credit to two ensemble members: Mark Bedard and John Tufts. Disclaimer: I have been a fan of their work for many years having seen them both up at OSF, so it's only natural that I would gravitate towards them in any show. In this case, my praise for their work in this show is well deserved and bias-free. Mark Bedard has one of the funniest physical comedy bits I have seen in a while onstage, and John Tufts steals the show in his alternating roles of Mary and Bingley.
I have always thought of Pride and Prejudice as a very feminist story. Despite being trapped in a very-antifeminist time, Lizzie is one of those characters that modern women identify with, and the women in the original tale radiate. After seeing this production however, I walked away only remembering the men. Was it the way Kate Hamill played Lizzie? (I was not a fan) Was this the director? Was this the result of fine male performances? A combination? Who knows.... Read more Read less

See it if you enjoy lovingly irreverent, incredibly clever, fast-paced, and cheeks-hurt-from-laughing drama

Don't see it if you really can't stand even modernised funny period drama, struggle with fast dialogue, or with body-language intensive plays

See it if You like well done farce and Jane Austen

Don't see it if You don't like tampering with classics

See it if You love P&P and you want to see a smart, careful, and truly well-done adaptation performed and directed incredibly well.

Don't see it if Mild anachronisms (non-period music, etc.) will bother you.

See it if you enjoy cleverly focused & modernized, physically entertaining retelling of a classic, told via great performances

Don't see it if you are a purist when it comes to the novel, or wouldn't enjoy an interpretation that lets the story have fun with its own tropes

See it if you want to see a fun, imaginative, well written and acted interpretation of a classic.

Don't see it if you don't like; plays, interpretations of classics, a fun night out at the theatre.

See it if You enjoyed Hamill's versions of Sense and Sensibility and Vanity Fair.

Don't see it if You don't like anyone messing with classics.

Also I enjoyed this production, but not as much as I did Hamill's versions of Sense and Sensibility and Vanity Fair.... Read more Read less

See it if you love the book; this is a really funny interpretation & presentation of the characters & the story. I've enjoyed all Hamill's adaptations

Don't see it if you want it to be serious or flawless. Lizzy and Darcy are not my preferred versions of these characters

See it if You liked Hamill's Sense & Sensibility and you don't mind skipping the 2nd act. You like scripts where actors play more than one character.

Don't see it if You don't want to sit through a boring 2nd act with an insipid ending.

See it if You are looking for a fresh take on Jane Austen. You enjoy slapstick comedy. You like a small cast playing multiple roles.

Don't see it if You are a traditional Jane Austen fan. You do not enjoy modern elements including modern music added to a 19th century themed show.

Also So hard to rate this. Parts were very funny - other parts not funny at all. In the end I was not sure if I liked it. But it was very clever, very creative, and the cast all worked extremely hard to get the laughs they deserved. Several of the cast members were real standouts and it was clear they had quite a bit of talent.... Read more Read less

See it if you enjoyed Kate Hamill's Sense and Sensibility and would like to see another work by her. This is good but not as outstanding and creative

Don't see it if You would only like a traditional rendering of the novel

See it if You love Austen in action. This play is a fresh comedic take on a classic.

Don't see it if You prefer a traditional unedited production of Austen. There is a touch of agressive over-acting by Elizabeth at the end.

See it if you know Pride & Prejudice well, enjoy farce and physical comedy and love experiencing a terrific ensemble cast having a ball together.

Don't see it if I think this show is probably best enjoyed if you know the plot of Pride & Prejudice and the various characters.

See it if You are a fan of the book and don't mind an irreverent take on a classic, if you enjoy laughing, if you like a bit of music & dance.

Don't see it if You are a literary purist and prefer a straightforward rendition of a classic, if you prefer drama to comedy.

Also I love Jane Austen's novels, have read all of them and many books inspired by them, have seen many movies of or inspired by the books. This production was an absolute delight, making fun of characters & situations while staying true to the sense of the book.... Read more Read less

See it if you're intrigued by the character of Mary and want to see her take some of the spotlight

Don't see it if you have low tolerance for slapstick solely for the sake of slapstick

Also I loved hamill's Sense & Sensibility but this was an enormous let down. Failed in delivering the sincerity and charm necessary in pulling off something like this.... Read more Read less

See it if You might like a modern take on this classic. Kate Hamill matches wits with Jane Austen and lands it - a great job.

Don't see it if You haven't read the original or you just had an operation that puts you at great risk if you laugh.