Whether a Jane Austen fan or not, audience members of Eastern Mennonite University’s “Pride and Prejudice” are in for a delicious treat. Guest director and alumnus Stan Swartz produces a fresh and funny take on acclaimed playwright Kate Hamill’s adaptation of the famous novel. At the same time, this fast-paced farce, following the determined Elizabeth Bennett on her quest to marry for love, delves into the stiflingly social mores of 18th century Britain.
“Hamill’s dominant layers of humor, honesty, pathos and sheer theatricality mix well with the underlying questions about society’s rules, past and present. How do we reconcile our own conscience and identity with the demands that our culture puts on us?” Swartz writes in his director’s notes.
“Pride and Prejudice” runs Nov. 15-23, in the Mainstage Theater, University Commons. Performances are 7 p.m. Nov. 15, 16, 21, 22, and 23, and 3 p.m. Nov. 17.
Professor Justin Poole, now in Europe with students on a semester cross-cultural, invited Swartz to direct the fall production.
“He suggested Kate Hamill who has recently done a series of very playful Austen adaptations with lots of theatricality and humor,” said Swartz, adding that Hamill was named Playwright of the Year for 2017 by The Wall Street Journal. “The more I studied Hamill’s script, the more impressed I was with it. I am delighted that I have continued feeling that way throughout the rehearsal process.”
Another universal question Hamill addresses in her adaptation is how you know when you have found the right match, Swartz said. The playwright’s adaptation explores how people treat love as a serious high-stakes game that often makes them look foolish.
Casting preparation
Swartz, who is known in theater circles for his casting strengths, creates a detailed character analysis for each role before holding auditions. He looks for dominant characteristics and works to find similar characteristics in casting actors.
“Casting is always such a juggle,” he said. “If you can do that, you are a long way to a good show.”
Swartz, who is also an actor, taught and directed high school theater for 31 years. Among other accolades, he was named 2018 Southeastern Theater Conference Director of the Year (Secondary Level). Many of Swartz’s former students have gone on to have successful careers in theater.
Senior Liz Marin, a theater education major, knew of Swartz’s stellar reputation and was “super excited” he was directing at EMU, she said. “I always wanted the chance to act with him.”
Veteran stage manager Gwen Mallow auditioned to step outside her comfort zone and says she is “grateful” for the opportunity Swartz has given her. “It is challenging because I have never been on stage before in my life, but that’s also what makes it fun,” said Mallow, a senior English major who plays Jane Bennet, Elizabeth’s sister.
Creating the character
To help his cast get into character, Swartz and his British wife, Ann, gave them an experience the Austen family would have been familiar with in the late 1700s. The couple hosted a high tea complete with cucumber sandwiches, strawberries, cream and scones.
For Mallow, “sitting at the table drinking tea and eating scones made every person’s posture perfect and sometimes we caught ourselves talking in our artificial British accents,” she said.
Marin also noticed her cast members sitting with “very straight backs,” she said. “When I looked around the table at my fellow castmates, I realized that we had transcended the status of friendship and had developed into a dysfunctional, yet beautiful family who loves to fellowship and laugh together.”
With half the cast being female, part of Hamill’s humor in her adaptation is suggesting double casting with men. She theorizes, Swartz said, “that the audience hears it differently when they hear it from men because it emphasizes it all. The audience becomes aware of the ironies.”
Marin plays Elizabeth’s and Jane’s father, Mr. Bennet, as well as the Bennet sisters’ friend, Charlotte Lucas.
“Playing two characters is a mental challenge as I try to maintain a separation of physicalities which would distinguish and separate both characters,” said Marin. “When I am playing Charlotte, I allow my body to be more loose, I allow myself to laugh more and show excitement in my conversations with the Bennet sisters. As Mr. Bennet, I try to keep my body stiff. Also, I am mindful of maintaining a calculated square gait in my steps as I walk.”
Mallow’s playful response about her character preparation echoes Austen’s humor. “I prepare for being Jane Bennet by reminding myself to smile and stand up straight.”
Actors and director continue to find insight and significance in Hamill’s artfully written play, Swartz said. “I love the creative process itself. I thoroughly enjoy the collaboration, the constant problem solving, and the creativity required in directing. I enjoy crafting all the potentially conflicting elements into a unified whole that moves the audience to see and feel and respond.”
The production is sponsored by Everence.
Ticket prices are $12 ($14 at the door) for adults, seniors, children and non-EMU students ($11 at the door), and $5 for EMU and Bridgewater students. Discounts are available for groups of ten or more. Tickets are available online through EMU’s Box Office, www.emu.edu/boxoffice or by calling 540-432-4582 between 10:30 a.m. – 2:30 p.m. weekdays. “Pride and Prejudice” has a run time of 2 hours and 10 minutes including a 15-minute intermission. A post-show discussion with the director and cast is scheduled for Friday, Nov. 16,following the performance.
CAST
Mrs. Bennet: Anna Ressler
Mr. Bennet/Charlotte Lucas: Liz Marin
Jane Bennet: Gwen Mallow
Lizzy Bennet: Elizabeth Eby
Mary Bennet/Mr. Bingley: Philip Krabill
Lydia Bennet/Miss de Bourgh: Anna Hoover
Miss Caroline Bingley: Kali Myers
Mr. Darcy: Joe Seitz
Mr. Wickham/Mr. Collins: Andrew Stoltzfus
Lady Catherine de Bourgh/Colonel Forester: Thaddeus Jackson
Servants: Thaddeus Jackson and Kali Myers
PRODUCTION ARTISTS
Director: Stan Swartz
Costume Designer: Rachel Herrick
Lighting Designer: Robert Weaver
Stage Manager: Michelle Brunk
Sound Designer: Christopher Runion
Scenic Designers: Shannon Dove and Stan Swartz
Technical Director: Shannon Dove
Dance Instructor: Amber Corriston
Sound Board Operator: Partha Roy
Light Board Operator: Jonathan Murch
Costume Shop Manager: Rachel Herrick
Stitchers: Janelle Birkey, Lila Tolman
Hair/Makeup: Janelle Birkey
Construction Supervisor: Shannon Dove
Scenic Painter: Kylee Rodgers
Construction and Technical Crew: Anna Hoover, Joe Seitz and Michelle Brunk
Poster Designers: Jon Styer and Stan Swartz
Public Relations Coordinators: Liz Marin and Anna Hoover
Cast Photographers: Mandy Puffenbarger and Macson McGuigan
House Manager: Anali Martin
VACA Administrative Assistant: Gretchen Maust
Theater Administrative Assistant: Stephen Farrar