Review: BEING MR WICKHAM, Belgrade Theatre Coventry (UK tour)

If you remember watching the acclaimed BBC TV adaptation of Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice, then you’ll be extremely familiar with the character of George Wickham.  Wickham is the Godson of Mr Darcy Senior and after eloping to marry Lydia Bennett amidst the controversy and shame of his debts, he is now ready to set the record straight.  It is the eve of his 60th birthday and we are about to find out exactly what happened 30 years ago from where we left off.

What really happened to Darcy?  How did he feel about Elizabeth?  What happened at Waterloo?  What happened when he had an unfortunately timed meeting with Byron? 

Performed by Adrian Lukis, who also co writes with Catherine Curzon and directed by Guy Unsworth, Wickham is brought back to life.  It certainly helps that Lukis played the younger version of this character for the BBC production, as the familiarity of his relationship with this character shines through and there is no question of his embodiment in the role and all of his traits.

His storytelling is direct with the audience as we learn of his tales of Pemberley and the Bennett girls.  Wickham’s sarcastic yet humorous and entertaining observations of scandal, then and now, draw us in with ease.  He asks us “Am I the villain of my own story?” and “Aren’t we all flawed?” and for this we must come to our own conclusions having now heard his side of the story.

An entertaining evening, which will bring out fans of Austen in their droves.  A post show Q and A discussion adds an intriguing insight into the creation of this piece.

A must see for all period drama fans.

**** Four stars

Reviewed by: Rachel Louise Martin

Being Mr Wickham is on tour across the UK until November 2021. For more information and to book tickets, please click here.