‘Miss Bennet: Christmas at Pemberley’ is Ardently Admirable
It is a truth universally acknowledged that a theatregoer in possession of holiday spirit must be in want of a show—and Domino Theatre’s production of Miss Bennet: Christmas at Pemberley, directed by Craig Norton,is a perfect answer to that want.
Taking place a few years following the events of Pride and Prejudice, the happily married Lizzy (Madeleine Smith) and Mr. Darcy (William Anderson) prepare to welcome the Bennet sisters and the rest of their family to their Pemberley estate for Christmas. As familiar characters rush into the holiday celebration, Mary Bennet (Ashley Miller), the middle, well-read Bennet sister is the only one unpaired, until a mysterious visitor, Arthur de Bourgh (Justin Dubuc), arrives at the home.
The script itself, written by Lauren Gunderson and Margot Melcon, certainly reads for a 21st century audience, with some out of place nods to modern life. There are many jokes referencing the “odd” Christmas tree on the set, as the tradition of decorating an evergreen was not commonplace in England until later in the 19th century and this play is set in the Regency era. Many of these built-in jokes are included to justify the reasoning for references to modernity, often feeling forced into the dialogue. This is not the fault of the rehearsal team, who make as best use of the script as they can, and as such, the jokes should be taken in stride.
One choice this production did make is not having any actors speak in British accents. Although I settled into this shift early on, there are inconsistencies as some characters sound of the time and period, albeit without an accent, whereas others speak with a completely modern speech pattern. It can be a difficult feat to ensure a cast is on the same page with dialects in community theatre productions, which is understandable, but it somewhat took me out of the show each time some characters spoke.
An excellent example of the more accurate speaking quality is Miller, whose physicality and speech patterns turn her into the oft-forgotten middle sister and protagonist of the story. Miller is magnetic, bringing new life to Mary Bennet as she balances the character’s signature stoicism and bookish personality with lovely comedic timing. She makes Mary a clear heroine of her own story. The chemistry shared with Dubuc is sweet, with his awkward de Bourgh being a perfect match to Mary’s quirks, and they have many charming moments throughout the duration of the play.
Although Dubuc portrays the only character who is not from the original books, he does an excellent job at grounding the character in what audiences already know of the iconic Austen novel, a performance that complements all others. The private moments he shares with Anderson’s Darcy and Dan Del Pup’s Bingley are particularly entertaining, as the two married men provide the frantic and lovestruck de Bourgh with courting advice and knowing smiles.
Smith is a sweet Lizzy and Taylor Stevens’ Jane feels at home with the character’s signature doting nature, which is heightened by her newfound pregnancy in this play. Their calmer personas are, of course, juxtaposed with the wild Lydia (Acaisha Hurley). Hurley flounces about the stage, a lovely display of Lydia’s mischievous nature as she plays tricks on her sister Mary and Arthur de Bourgh throughout their budding romance.
Another odd aspect of the script is the depiction of the typically shy, sickly Anne de Bourgh (Skye Sinclair). In this interpretation, she has morphed into the opposite, instead channeling the strict, judgemental attitude of her mother, Lady Catherine de Bourgh of the classic novel. Sinclair makes use of this strangely different written choice as best as she can, making Anne quick-witted while finding moments of fragility to anchor the character to her origins.
The set, designed by Liz Schell, is grand and transforms the Domino stage into Pemberley, complete with arched doorways, ornate furniture, and a platform upstage centre of the stage that holds the Christmas tree. It is decorated by actors throughout the production, making a beautiful centerpiece of the stage. Schell’s costume design further brings us into 19th century England, and her pops of colour into Mary’s wardrobe—a character typically found in dark colours—as she finds herself in love was one of my favourite choices.
A treat for all lovers of Pride and Prejudice or any charming romance, Miss Bennet: Christmas at Pemberley is a joyous way to feel the holiday spirit this season; don’t miss out!
‘Miss Bennet: Christmas at Pemberley’ is presented by Domino Theatre, and will be playing until December 13th, 2025. Tickets and more information can be found here.
