Last season, Lauren Gunderson was cited as the most-produced living playwright in the U.S., according to American Theatre. In the same season, her play Miss Bennet: Christmas at Pemberley was ranked as one of the top ten most-produced plays.
A holiday confection filled with classic Jane Austen charm, Miss Bennet is a modern sequel about the bookish middle child of the Bennets. The play is set after Lizzy Bennet (Lauren Jackson) has married Mr. Darcy (Chris Walters) and come to live on his grand estate. Joining them for the holidays are her pregnant elder sister, Jane (Leslie Dos Remedios), and Mr. Bingley (Tim Carlson); her youngest sister, Lydia (Baraka Rahmani); and Mary (Kate Dion-Richard), the often overlooked middle sister. While Mary starts to dream of a new life beyond her boisterous family, an unexpected visitor at the Darcy household (Matthew Macdonald-Bain) could spell romance.
Audiences will revel in this sparkling comic play that is full of seasonal felicity and pays tribute to its inspiration. It has even been embraced by the Jane Austen Society of North America.
On this programming choice, Artistic Director Ashlie Corcoran said, “This piece is frothy, seasonal, delightful, funny, romantic, and nerdy—in the best way. It’s also very smart, with a contemporary feminist sensibility.”
Director Roy Surette added, “I love that this play pays great respect to Jane Austen, yet has a modern, subversive sensibility. It’s a story about family and finding love—and who doesn’t love that at Christmastime?”
SHOWTIMES
November 15 – December 30, 2018
Mon–Thu at 7:30 PM, Fri & Sat at 8 PM, Wed at 1:30 PM, and Sat at 2 PM
Holiday showtimes: Mon, Dec 24, at 12:30 PM & 5:30 PM; and Sun, Dec 30, at 1 PM & 7 PM; no shows on Dec 25 & 26
Tickets from $29 at artsclub.com or the Arts Club Box Office at 604.687.1644
