The Observer, April 4, 2008
Volume XL, Issue 23
Cleveland Playhouse offers well done, if slightly uneven, Pride and Prejudice
Sometimes, when it comes to the genre of classic plays, it is pretty easy to forget just how timeless tales can be. Even decades after they are written, some pieces just stand the test of time, and still remain applicable and enjoyable today. Cleveland Play House's current production, Pride and Prejudice, is a great example. Witty and charming, this adaptation of Jane Austen's famous novel easily reached its contemporary audience while still remaining true to its early-19th century settings.
Told through the eyes of Elizabeth Bennet (Chaon Cross), Pride and Prejudice follows the adventures of the Bennet family as Mr. and Mrs. Bennet attempt to marry off all five of their daughters. The two eldest, Jane and Elizabeth, are the focus of their parents' efforts. With a ball thrown for wealthy bachelor guests that visit their small town, Mr. and Mrs. Bennet shamelessly try to help their daughters win the hearts of the gentlemen. The eldest, Jane (Michele Graff), succeeds in capturing Mr. Bingley's heart (Tom Degnan). However, Bingley's friend, Mr. Darcy (Jason Bradley), remain aloof from everyone at the ball. From their initial meeting, Mr. Darcy and Elizabeth Bennet are at odds, with Elizabeth finding Mr. Darcy cold and conceited, and Mr. Darcy finding Elizabeth unrefined and burdened by an unbecoming family.
Although both Jane and Bingley are in love, Bingley is of a higher social class than Jane, causing Bingley to be convinced to leave their small town. However, the Bennets continue to interact with the honored guests at the ball. Instead of Bingley, though, Elizabeth continues to cross paths with Mr. Darcy for months after their initial encounter. As the meetings progress, Elizabeth holds on to her initial misgivings while Darcy finds himself beginning to fall for the vivacious young woman. Eventually, though, as the Bennet family encounters a scandal of socially monumental proportions, Darcy and Elizabeth begin to let go of their initial misgivings for the love of each other.
Cross created a decent Elizabeth Bennet, but at the beginning of the show her character wasn't as developed as she later became. Once Degnan and Bradley's characters were introduced, though, the energy of the cast seemed to increase. Degnan, a Case/Cleveland Play House MFA student, did a wonderful job capturing not only Jane's heart, but the heart of the audience. Bradley's portrayal of Darcy was spot on, and into the second act his characterization of Darcy really helped bring out the best of Cross as Elizabeth.
As usual, the set at the Playhouse was spectacular and well suited for the production. Especially well done was the use of a motorized rotating section of the stage which was used tastefully for some scene changes. Overall, the show was well done with a strong cast.
Pride and Prejudice is a great show to see either on a date, a family outing, or just as a group of friends. It will be playing at the Bolton Theater until Sunday, April 13. Tickets start at $10 and can be purchased by calling (216) 795-7000 or by visiting www.clevelandplayhouse.com.
