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'Christmas at Pemberley': Adobe Theater brings 'Pride and Prejudice's' Mary to the forefront with 'Miss Bennet'
Valerie Lawdensky, Sarah Kesselring, Lauren Jehle and Jessica Alden star in 鈥淢iss Bennet: Christmas at Pemberley.鈥
It is a truth universally acknowledged that Jane Austen fans want more.
Fans of her classic 鈥淧ride and Prejudice鈥 will remember Mary Bennet as the introverted spinster who wears glasses and plays the pianoforte, usually sadly.
But Mary emerges from her isolation in 鈥淢iss Bennet: Christmas at Pemberley,鈥 produced by the Adobe Theater from Friday, Dec. 1, through Dec. 24.
Smart but solitary Mary, the observant but ignored middle child, begins to come into her own.
At the beginning of the play, 鈥淧ride and Prejudice鈥 stars Elizabeth and Darcy are happily married and living at their Pemberley Estate. Eldest sister Jane is married to her beau Charles Bingley. They are more in love than ever and expecting their first child. Lydia, the youngest, was the most sociable and flirtatious of the Bennet sisters. She defied social norms and ran off with a militia officer named George Wickham, leaving Mr. Darcy no choice but to bribe Wickham into marrying Lydia to save her reputation.
Lydia tries to convince everyone that her marriage is a happy one, but no one鈥檚 buying it.
Mary is growing tired of her role as the dutiful middle sister in the midst of everyone else鈥檚 romantic escapades. When the family gathers for Christmas at Pemberley, an unexpected guest sparks Mary鈥檚 hopes for independence, an intellectual match, and possibly even love.
鈥淚t鈥檚 two years after 鈥楶ride and Prejudice鈥 ends,鈥 said director Robin Havens-Parker.
The socially awkward Arthur de Bourgh, (related to the meddling, haughty Lady Catherine de Bourgh from 鈥淧ride and Prejudice鈥), arrives.
鈥淟ady Catherine has passed away,鈥 said Havens-Parker. 鈥淗e is in the process of taking her estate.鈥
Lady Catherine had planned for Darcy to marry her daughter Anne, but Elizabeth won his heart. Anne shows up and says she intends to marry Arthur.
But Mary and de Bourgh meet before her appearance and learn they share a love of reading; they鈥檙e devouring the same book. The couple make an immediate connection.
鈥淒e Bourgh is very much like Mary,鈥 Havens-Parker said.
The director was drawn to the imagined sequel because of the writing by playwrights Lauren Gunderson and Margot Melcon.
Gunderson has been one of the most produced playwrights in America since 2015, according to American Theatre magazine.
鈥淚t鈥檚 just very quick and witty and smart,鈥 Havens-Parker said. They 鈥渞eally captured the style of Jane Austen with a little bit of a modern vibe.鈥
鈥淚f you had never heard of 鈥楶ride and Prejudice,鈥 you would still enjoy the story,鈥 she continued. 鈥淭here鈥檚 little Easter eggs in the show for those who have.鈥
The play stars Sarah Kesselring as Mary and Cash Martinez as Arthur. Other familiar characters include Jessica Alden as Elizabeth; Tanner Sroufe as Darcy; Lauren Jehle is Jane; Isaac Dean Carrillo is Bingley. Valerie Lawdensky plays Lydia and Clair Gardner is Anne.