Review: PLIED AND PREJUDICE, The Vaults

Photo credit: Guy Bell

If you think you know the story of Pride and Prejudice, think again! Fresh from a sell out run in Australia, Plied and Prejudice is a raucous and irreverent retelling of Jane Austen’s classic novel which makes for a fabulously fun night out.

“It is a truth universally acknowledged that a single woman in Regency England must be in want of a very stiff drink” and that certainly seems to be true for many 21st Century Londoners based on the audience last night. Plied and Prejudice is an immersive theatrical experience that starts from the moment you enter the venue, The Vaults in London Waterloo. The drinks start flowing straightaway in a pre-show bar area accompanied by Bridgerton-esque pop music played by wonderful string musicians. Soon you are ushered into a traverse style expansive hall with benches on both sides and the fun begins with the facility to order more refreshments throughout the show.

Directed by Dash Kruck and written by Matthew Semple, Plied and Prejudice is a brilliant mix of farce and pantomime while still paying respect to the beloved source material. Of course in a production as bonkers and side-splitting as this, there is some deviation from the plot but that is all part of the fun. This classic tale has some modern additions; the dancing in the ball scene is replaced by hip-hop and the adult humour is far from what would have been acceptable in Regency times. The Australian team have been sure to add some Britishisms; the inclusion of Claudia Winkleman is one of our favourites, which further increases the level of laughs.

The outstanding cast consists of five actors scrambling to play all the parts, which must be close to twenty, and this creates a chaotic yet endearing production. They also get some help with Charlotte and Georgiana being played by members of the audience. The colourful costumes allow the cast to transform from character to character with hysterical varying degrees of slickness. Each actor has a primary role, alongside a multitude of others, which means at times you are honestly not sure who is who and perhaps this is even true for the actors! Emma Andreatta leads as the giddy and gossiping matriarch Mrs Bennet, fixated on marrying off her five daughters. She is joined by Brigitte Freeme as our fierce heroine Elizabeth Bennet and Monique Sallé as her sweet and naive sister, Jane. Andrew Macmillan is a loveable Mr Bingley, and Tim Walker plays his aloof friend Mr Darcy.

Plied and Prejudice pays homage to the original novel but also takes inspiration from previous adapations. The famous lake scene from the 1995 BBC TV series becomes the ‘Wettest of Wet T-shirt Contests’ and the classic Mr Darcy hand flex from the 2005 film has its moment. The role of Mr Collins is a real highlight and his truly replusive character is amplified for comedic effect. The layout of the venue means that there are a few moments we missed but this did nothing to dampen our enjoyment of this brilliantly entertaining show.

If you are looking for a frantic and fun filled evening, then Plied and Prejudice is the show for you!

**** Four stars

Reviewed by: Sophie Luck

Plied and Prejudice plays at The Vaults in London until 18 May, with further info here.