Whereas Jane Austen painted word pictures with devastating, feather-like delicacy, Sue Pomeroy's Good Company production of her most famous novel goes in for great dollops of colour and humour, all in the name of entertainment and high comedy. Its linear storytelling and blunt characterisations are not wasted, however, on a packed
and attentive audience, so attuned to various screen adaptations of Austen's work that it anticipates each witty line, each laser-like pronouncement, often before the speaker has even reached it. In short, Jane Austen has become showbiz, and this merry, cavalier company is happy to capitalise on the fact.
Dennis Saunders's mellow, country-house set adapts easily from the homely Bennett hearth to the aristocratic splendour of Darcy's Pemberley. But it is difficult to accommodate with entire ease the necessarily rapid scene changes, some of which compel the actors to waltz with the furniture to put the appropriate props in place.
Most at ease in their roles are the wryly observant, kindred spirits of Jane Robbins's Elizabeth and Jeremy Child's Mr Bennett. Pip Hinton's Mrs Bennett overrelies on a pantomime style of amplified humour, which creates few opportunities to explore the hidden depths of caring parenthood with which she is blessed. Victoria Newlyn is a perfectly attractive Jane and James Innes-Smith a handsome, though rather too amiable Darcy. Elsewhere, David Westbrook cranks up the laughter as a bumblingly lecherous Mr Collins, and the remainder of the hard-working cast spins the familiar tale at relentless speed, like a dizzy funfair carousel.
Pride and Prejudice is at the Grand Opera House until Saturday. To book phone Belfast 241919
