USU Theatre Arts presents ‘Miss Bennet: Christmas at Pemberley’
This week, the Utah State University Theatre Arts presents ‘Miss Bennet: Christmas at Pemberley.’
The play takes place two years after Jane Austen’s novel ‘Pride and Prejudice’ when the characters Elizabeth and Jane Bennet are both established in their marriages.
Kaija Strong, a USU acting student who is playing the lead, said she finds the play interesting because these characters start their new families and live the lives not seen outside of the book. According to Strong, the play is like a Jane Austen fan fiction.
The play also displays Strong’s character — Mary Bennet — in a new and exciting way.
“Mary was the middle, bookish, withdrawn sister, who you don’t hear a lot about in ‘Pride or Prejudice,’” Strong said. “It’s an interesting opportunity to get to see more of her character and understand why she is the way that she is.”
The story revolves around the Bennets coming together to celebrate Christmas at Lizzie and Mr. Darcy’s estate. While there, Mary has the opportunity to find love for herself — something she thought she would never be able to do, according to Strong.
“She finds love with this bumbling, equally awkward, equally bookish cousin of Mr. Darcy,” Strong said. “It’s just a lovely romance between these two nerds and it’s very, very sweet.”
The story being told from a different perspective — that of Elizabeth Bennet — has helped Strong rethink the original story of ‘Pride and Prejudice’ herself.
Strong is interested and intrigued by the character she plays. She has loved the process of learning to portray Mary in a way that would do the character justice.
In the opening of the play, Strong said the script said Mary has a “fire hidden within her.”
“I would totally agree with that,” Strong said. “You know, all her life she’s been told that she is one thing, and this is the opportunity where she finally gets to stand up for what she knows she is. It’s something beautiful and unique and all its own.”
Playing the role of Mary has also helped Strong identify the characteristics she shares with the character.
The dramaturge for this show put together a large packet of information about Mary for Strong to study. When she would read through the information, as well as the script, she would take note of all the similarities she found between her and her character.
“I found similarities in my sort of intellect,” Strong said. “I’m also a very bookish person. I love to curl up with a good book. I know what it feels like to have people define you, and the feelings that come with that.”
Connecting to Mary on those levels has helped Strong create a non-cookie cutter characterization of Mary.
Strong is not the only one who is connecting to her character throughout this production. Nicole Frederick, the actress playing the role of Anne de Bourgh, has found a new sense of confidence since taking the role upon her.
“I have noticed Anne’s confidence,” Frederick said. “And I’ve noticed that a lot has started showing up in my life. She has no filter whatsoever because she’s been sheltered her whole life, so it’s like if she wants something, she is going to get it.”
Frederick also relates to Anne’s hot then cold nature.
“We all have our angel side and our demon side,” Frederick said. “And those just come out so much in this play. She lives in her demon side, and then at the very end of the play, she realizes that there is something more that she was missing.”
Strong and Frederick both said performing with USU has been a great experience. Sharing that experience with an audience is special and important, according to Frederick.
“It’s such a positive environment where you’re all learning and striving for something that you care about and you’re so passionate about,” Frederick said. “Everyone just wants to see it grow and develop and become a beautiful production.”
Hard work has been poured into this production, and according to Frederick with the set and costumes, combined with the help of lighting and music, the audience is bound to feel like they are at Pemberley themselves.
“Everyone has worked so, so hard,” Frederick said. “The standards and dreams and goals for the show are just through the roof. Everyone is a puzzle piece and we’re just coming together to make this gorgeous picture.”
For Strong, participating in this production has been a healing process as she approaches her final semester here at USU.
“In your last year of your college major you start to doubt yourself and feel like you’re not doing things the way you want to,” Strong said. “But coming into rehearsals and receiving that bright energy from everyone helps me realize that I can take ownership of my work.”
Strong hopes audience members can receive the same light she feels when she performs. To her, this play is all about love, and she is excited to share the love with everyone.
“This is a play about love, and not just about romantic love but about all kinds of love,” Strong said. “You get to see the Bennet sisters and their beautiful sisterly love that they had in ‘Pride and Prejudice,’ and how it still exists even though three of them are married and have their own lives. That sisterly connection still exists and it’s very sweet to see.”
Strong said she is confident audience members will leave the theater feeling full.
“I’m so excited to get up on that stage for an hour and a half and celebrate all the loves in our lives,” Strong said.
Come enjoy this small cast of eight celebrate Christmas and all types of love at the Daryl Chase Fine Arts Center, free or USU students, Dec. 2-4 and 6-8 at 7:30 p.m.