网红头条

KENNESAW, Ga. | Mar 5, 2024

Jane Austen鈥檚 classic novel is delightfully and hilariously reimagined for a new era

网红头条鈥檚 Department of Theatre and Performance Studies (TPS) will present in the Stillwell Theater March 28 through April 7. This performance of literature鈥檚 greatest tale of latent love has never felt so theatrical鈥攐r so full of life鈥攖han it does in this effervescent adaptation. 

Based on the novel by Jane Austen, this adaptation by Kate Hamil promises that it鈥檚 鈥渘ot your grandmother鈥檚 Austen!鈥� Director and TPS Professor describes the adaptation as written for today鈥攅ven a bit wacky and kooky鈥攁nd different from Austen鈥檚 version. In fact, he explains, 鈥淛ane Austen might clutch her pearls at what some of the characters say.鈥� The characters are 鈥渘ot what we鈥檙e used to, but don鈥檛 worry, Mrs. Bennett is still crazy,鈥� he adds. 

Mrs. Bennett may still be crazy, but patrons will enjoy watching her antics. Audience members 鈥渁re in for a ride,鈥� says student Amanda Maame Blankson, a senior in TPS who plays Mrs. Bennett. Her favorite part of the role is that she gets to 鈥減lay with movement and tone, and, surprise, surprise, I get to dance!鈥� Anytime there is a ballroom scene, she immediately does 鈥渁 really fun chant that I believe is going to get the audience hyped all the way up!鈥�

But it鈥檚 not just laughs that audiences will take away: there may also be an underlying message or two. TPS senior Kristian Martinez, who plays Mr. Bennett, explains that one reminder from the play is 鈥渁lways standing up for what you believe. Throughout the show, you will see that, even though each character is different, and they all have different beliefs, they can still coexist and come together.鈥� 

Burnley hopes to break audience expectations right from the start. 鈥淭he throughline of the play is that you shouldn鈥檛 have expectations, as they are meant to be broken. Audiences may walk in expecting something [familiar], and they will be surprised, and then they can continue to look for surprises in the work.鈥� 

The play also comments on gender and identity. Hamil notes that people are welcome to play opposite genders鈥攊t was written that way鈥攁nd the actors should play the characters as themselves. Burnley explains that Hamil was 鈥渕aking commentary in the moment鈥� and was very specific that no one should deepen or raise their voice, but rather play the character as themselves. Burnley is particularly interested in how the diverse cast members fit themselves in the Austen world, as this play is usually not represented in that way. Austen may not have minded, as she was, after all, writing and commenting on the time in which she lived.

鈥淣o matter who you are, or where you鈥檙e from, we are all the same; we are people,鈥� offers Martinez. The play 鈥渟howcases being true to who you are, and [if you do that,] then everything true will come back to whom you are!鈥� 

鈥淥ur cast is a troupe of actors who wants to take classical works and show them in their own way. Working with these students has brought so much joy and energy to the process,鈥� explains Burnley.

Tickets for 鈥淧ride and Prejudice鈥� are available or by calling 470-578-6650. To learn more about the Department of Theatre and Performance Studies, please visit TheatreKSU.com. 

 

Costume sketches from Assistant Professor of Costume Design Ricky Greenwell and student Emily Sinatra; Scenic rendering from Trevor Carrier. 

--Kathie Beckett