For most high school kids, the mention of “Pride & Prejudice” induces horrifying war flashbacks to other four hundred-page reading assignments in our English classes. Forget this, we’d rather spend our time on Friends, New Girl, Jane the Virgin…you know, coming-of-age, rom-coms with sarcastic, relatable protagonists?
Oh wait–that is the story of Pride & Prejudice.
This November, the MLHS theater and drama department is bringing the 1800’s classic to life with a modern twist that students will relate to. This production of Pride & Prejudice isn’t the dusty, old one that you’re imagining–no pocket dictionaries will be needed.
The play features the headstrong Lizzy Bennet (Julia Youngman ‘20) through her reluctance to fit her assigned role in society. Born to a family of all girls, Lizzy and her sisters are given the responsibility to marry a wealthy man who will inherit their family’s estate. Through this adventure of social-climbing, Lizzy encounters the handsome and aloof Mr. Darcy (Noah Goldfischer ‘20), who challenges her tendency to make hasty judgements. As Lizzy navigates such a superficial society, the story confronts the prospect of breaking social norms and being one’s true self.
Even though our society has come a long way from Austenian England, women’s roles in society are still meeting challenges and changing. Pride & Prejudice presents a discussion about how we all view others–and how it can be dangerous to base our opinions on the physical alone.
We interviewed some cast and crew members to get a detailed look into what life’s like onstage for Mountain Lakes’ Theatre Department.
Ms. Penney: The Director
What inspired you to pick Pride & Prejudice for this year’s drama?
“I felt like the students here needed a challenge that wasn’t Shakespeare… and wasn’t rip-roaring crazy… I wanted it to connect to literature that either they’ve encountered or could encounter. And I felt like it was really fun, so the script that I picked is a great combo between something really fun and zany, but it also does the piece justice.”
How does your experience with this production compare to that of other past MLHS shows?
“Every year is different. Every cast is different. Last year we had a ton of seniors; this year we’ve got three…four seniors. What a big difference from last year!”
How do you think students are able to relate to this story?
“I think there are a lot of ways… The story is about love, human relationships, …and understanding one another… One thing that we’ve been trying to find is how that connects to Mountain Lakes. Because I feel… that judgement does exist here, and it’s heavy, and it’s hard, [but] it’s possible to get through it, and… to grow in spite of it or as a result of it… This show is very much about [that]. One thing that I think is great about Lizzy, the lead character–she works very hard not to conform. And conformity, in a subtle or maybe not subtle way, is pushed here and I want to encourage people to be themselves in spite of [it].”
Julia Youngman: Lizzy
What are you most excited for people to see?
“I think we have a great group of people because we all know and love each other very much, so I [hope] people will be able to see how connected we are and how much chemistry we have.”
What has been the most difficult part of putting the show together for you?
“Trying to walk the line of being sarcastic, but also likeable. Because sometimes you get so sarcastic that audiences don’t like you, or you play it too safe and you just kind of blend into the background. She’s supposed to be very singular, so I’ve had trouble doing that, but I think it’s getting better.”
What advice do you have for anybody interested in getting involved with the drama?
“I’ll give a personal anecdote because I’m a narcissist: My first show was my freshman year. I hadn’t done anything theater-related previously. I hadn’t even sung or anything. So you know what? You really don’t know what you’re going to enjoy until you put yourself out there and commit to it, so go out there! Try. Give it your all.”
Halle Korman: The Stage Manager
What do you do as the stage manager?
“God, I do everything! I’m pretty much Ms. Penney’s assistant… I have to know what’s going on [and]… do a little bit of everything [or] whatever Ms. Penney wants me to do.”
How did you become interested in stage managing?
“It’s still being involved in theater without being directly involved with it. I love that so much because I love theater. Watching where we started from and where we ended up is so magical.”
Maya Kalapatapu: The Swing
What is your job description, as a swing?
“It means that I am understudy for everything. So if somebody just happens to fall off a cliff and die, I will take their role. But then I’m also a servant because I was here; Ms. Penney gave me the role.”
What is your favorite part that you have played in Pride & Prejudice?
“I do actually like the role I ended up getting: a servant. Basically I just get onstage and scream at the top of my lungs. It is wonderful. Magnificent stress relief. It’s awesome.”
How has playing so many different roles affected your perspective of the show?
“It sort of showed me that acting… [is] not just one thing. Even if [a] character seems actually like a polar opposite to yourself, …you can still relate to them in some way and still try to embody them as a character.”
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Should the show be called Pride & Prejudice or “Comedy, Romance & Quality Talent”? You can decide this weekend on November 16, 17, & 18 in the MLHS auditorium!
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