On November 14th, 15th, and 16th The Lamphere Theatre Company hosted the live play, Pride & Prejudice. This play goes through the loss and gain of relationships in a 1800s style setting, with drama all the way through, with a father upset with his daughter’s choice in marriage to a family abandoning their eldest. It’s a show that will take you to places you did not know you could reach. Although this is a modern reconstruction sticking with the plot, we made sure to follow the ways these characters act and feel. We have interviewed students leading up to the show to ask their views after the show.
Allison Richards (Senior): Mrs. Bennet
How prepared are you for the student showing of the production?
“I felt prepared, I’ve been putting in a lot of work along with everyone else so this will be performed well!”
Do you in any way feel connected to the role you are playing?
“I feel very connected to her! We share a similar personality, both being outgoing and sort of loud.”
Were you nervous to perform?
“No, I only get nervous the first show night (opening night).”
How do you feel the LTC changed you throughout your years in these productions?
“I feel like it’s made me appreciate theater more, I also think that it helps me not hate people. I have to get along with them even though I’m competing with them so it forces me to like people. I learn to be more respectful towards everyone through LTC.”
Troy Hill (Senior): Mr. Bingley
How prepared are you for the student showing of the production?
“I think I was really prepared. I think I’ve had my lines and blocking down for quite some time now and I think it shows when I’m helping others and I’m already prepared for the next scene I’m in.”
Do you in any way feel connected to the role you are playing?
“To an extent he’s portrayed as this golden retriever character and clicks with everyone, and I connect to him in the sense as a friendly and approachable person.”
Were you nervous to perform?
“I was not; I was more excited. My character is super fun and bubbly and I was really excited to be him.”
How do you feel the LTC changed you throughout your years in these productions?
“I think it’s made me a lot more of a confident person and I’ve been put into bigger roles and it has lifted my self esteem and built my friendship and leadership skills and being president my junior and senior year as well.”
Rodney Cushingberry (Junior): Mr. Wickham
How prepared are you for the student showing of the production?
“I would say extremely prepared, the countless reps we’ve done has made me feel confident in the show we’re about to produce.”
Do you in any way feel connected to the role you are playing?
“No, but it helps get out of my character more. I’d rather get the role of someone I’m not similar to.”
Were you nervous to perform?
“No, because I think of it as another rehearsal.”
Devon Buccilli (sophomore): Mary Bennet
How prepared are you for the student showing of the production?
“Very prepared, I’d hope students would enjoy my performance as well as the rest of the cast’s performance in the show if they come to see it.”
How well does the cast work together?
“Very well. I think the cast outside of the stage and theater is very connected, we’re all very good friends (especially people in the main cast). I think we all have a very good stage presence around each other.”
Were you nervous to perform?
“At first, yes. Mary is a character that is far out of my comfort zone in terms of characters I’ve played for the past few years, but I think seeing myself in this role shows a level of growth in me I don’t think I would’ve seen otherwise.”
Max Polito (Freshman): Mr. Bennet
How prepared are you for the student showing of the production?
“I felt really prepared. After the dress rehearsal, I felt more confident. It comforts me because if I mess up I know everyone is not going to hate me or kick me out.”
Do you in any way relate to the role you are playing?
“No, not at all. The exact opposite of myself, but it makes it more fun.”
Were you nervous to perform?
“Of course, everyone is nervous at first, but once you actually get out there onto the stage it just feels like another dress rehearsal, and the more we get through the show, the more the nerves settle down.”
Evelyn’s thoughts:
“To be honest, going into the show I was scared I was not going to like it very much. I just am not usually interested in theater in any way. I was just going to see a couple of my friends perform, not expecting a lot. But the LTC completely blew what expectations I had out of the water. From the background props, to the acting it was such a well thought out and executed performance. I believe the roles were casted beautifully, and that the whole show was fantastic!”
Ella’s thoughts:
“I went into this play not knowing anything except from what my friends had told me so I was going in blindly and slightly worried I was going to be bored. I absolutely loved this play, it was very well performed and it had a great mix of drama, comedy and romance, the sets were built well and yet again the LTC blew me away with another great production, and now I’m looking forward to seeing the musical even more.”
With that we hope you made it to the showings, if not we recommend watching the movie to get a taste of pride and if not, we figure the book would work just as well if not better. So when thinking of the play, listen to the cast with their prejudice in thinking it’s very good. And enjoy watching it on your own time.
