University of Colorado Boulder students perform in Kate Hamill’s adaptation of “Pride and Prejudice” (Courtesy, RDGPhotography)
The University of Colorado Boulder Theatre & Dance Department’s performance of Jane Austen’s infamous novel, “Pride and Prejudice” took the classic story to new heights.
The production, which ran in the Roe Green Theatre from Oct. 3-12, captured every funny, heartfelt, and dramatic moment that makes Pride and Prejudice so popular, while also incorporating a new unique style.
Adapted by Kate Hamill, the play tells the story of a young woman, Elizabeth or “Lizzy” in early 19th-century English society. Lizzy and her three sisters attempt to navigate the world of love while their mother attempts to marry off each one to a suitable husband with money.
However, Hamill’s adaptation was not a version of Pride and Prejudice that audiences may have expected.
“While the four new couples we end the play with might not be the greatest at The Newlywed Game, they offer us insight into the impact of how we play the game. That is part of the universality of Austen and Hamill’s works, we all have some form of relationship to games and can recognize the game of marriage as part of our lives,” said Director James Early in his program note.
The intimate Roe Green Theatre, allowed the audience to make out every expression and emotion of the actor’s performance. The set, created by CU Boulder students, brought the stage to life, captivating the audience and pulling them into the early 1800s.
Lizzy, played by Shannon Kosman, has been portrayed in many different styles throughout the years, from the original 1813 novel, to the 1995 and 2005 film and television adaptations.
“There are so many versions of Elizabeth that people already know and are expecting, so it is hard to make it my own while staying true to the character,” said Kosman. “I was trying to take all those Lizzys and make them one while still making her different.”
The play opens with actors portraying Lizzy, Jane, Lydia and Ms. Bennet placing blindfolds over their eyes and dancing around. Throughout various points in the play, characters including Mr. Bingley and Jane are seen playing with a ball or manipulating a looped string to play cat’s cradle, a unique choice by Early.
“I grew up playing card and board games with my family. Whether it was a cutthroat game of Canasta or the quick paced Bananagrams, games were central to our household,” Early said in his directors note. “These games, no matter how complex, require strategy, and you will see wins and losses. Much like the Early family, the Bennet family plays their own games and finds themselves players in the game of marriage.”
The cast of the University of Colorado Boulder’s Theatre & Dance Department’s production of “Pride and Prejudice” (Courtesy, RDGPhotography)
Members of the audience and CU students Kasaty Cofman and India Butchart, remarked how each scene brought a smile to their face, specifically when Mary, played by Nathan Hunt, was on stage.
Butchart said that although the movie is popular, seeing Pride and Prejudice live on stage is a special opportunity.
“It is so different from watching a movie and you are supporting the actors that worked so hard,” she said.
The students’ creativity reminded audiences why the classic story continues to captivate over two centuries later.
“It’s such a great environment. I have never been in a show where everyone is just so incredibly supportive of each other in all aspects. It means so much to me,” said Kosman. “I am so grateful to be on that stage.”
Contact CU Independent Staff Writer Sofia Reitz at sofia.reitz@colorado.edu
