Theater Review: 'Pride and Prejudice' by Westport Community Theatre

Review by Connecticut Critics Circle membership chair Nancy Sasso Janis

Westport Community Theatre has produced a fine production of the classic “Pride and Prejudice.” The play was adapted from the Jane Austen novel by Jon Jory and the Westport production is thoughtfully directed by Mark Frattaroli. The fast-paced adaptation highlights all of the romance and the comedy as it charmingly strives to engage multiple generations.

Frattaroli is a retired English and Theater teacher at Fairfield Warde High School and as such taught “Pride and Prejudice” over 20 times. He “loves the novel for its insight, language, and variety of humor.”

The director adds: “What’s best about Jory’s adaptation is how it takes Austen’s original dialogue and tweaks it to make it flow like spoken language without erasing Austen’s sound.” The audience still needs to pay close attention to follow the story if they are unfamiliar with the novel, but this script makes it a bit easier.

Frattaroli believes that by simplifying the set, “Jory keeps the story moving while retaining the humor, joy, humanity, and insight into class and social roles that keep the novel alive today.”

It soon became clear that all of the cast members, from those playing the younger family members to the veteran performers taking on the roles of elder characters.

Lucy Babitt is a delight in the role of the foolish and often loud Mrs. Bennet. She may have managed to steal all of her scenes if Patrick Spaulding of New Fairfield was not her perfect comic foil in the role of the mostly ineffective family patriarch, the sarcastic Mr. Bennet.

Lynnette Victoria returns to this stage to take on the leading role of the protagonist, the wittiest Bennet sister, Elizabeth and gives a polished performance. Margaret Frattaroli, a middle school history teacher by day, plays the eldest sister Jane and Erin Wallace plays well the bookish sister Mary as well as Elizabeth’s best friend, the pragmatic Charlotte Lucas. Isla Hood, a high school sophomore, plays the younger sister Kitty. Skyler Forrester Brown covers the roles of the immature Lydia Bennet and Georgianna in her Connecticut stage debut.

Tony Moreno takes on the role of the prideful Mr. Darcy.

Equity member Deborah Carlson, an actress with 40 years of experience, portrays a Ball Guest, the haughty and bossy Lady Catherine and a down-to-earth Housekeeper.

Dana Chiapparelli of Westport appears as the snobbish Miss Bingley and the Bennet sister’s aunt, Mrs. Gardiner.

Henry Durham appears as a Ball Guest, an officer and a servant in his debut with this group.

Brodey Ott of Stratford plays a Ball Guest and the fortune-hunting George Wickham.
Sawyer Peduto is at his best as the newly arrived Mr. Bingley, Darcy’s wealthy friend, and also plays Colonel Fitzwilliam and a servant.

John Bachelder has a wonderful comedic presence in the roles of Sir William Lucas, the pompous clergyman Mr. Collins and Mr. Gardiner.

I was very impressed with the period costumes that helped to bring the characters to glorious life, matched with lovely and accurate hairstyles and makeup. Mary Kulcsar served as the costume assistant.

Jill Bowcock was responsible for the choreography at the ball. Lighting design by Jeff Klein was quite simple but effective. David Rylander worked as the technical director and Stage Manager Trudy Durrell kept everyone in sync, especially those performers that covered more than one role.

This is a two-act performance is set in and around Hertfordshire, England in 1813, with a simple set featuring three windows and minimal furniture. A large plant is noisily pushed out to indicate that the action has moved outside, adding a bit of comedy.

“Pride and Prejudice” continues through Feb. 16 at the Town Hall located at 110 Myrtle Ave. in Westport. Enter the building on the lower level at the rear of the building. For reservations, call 203 226-1983 or westportcommunitytheatre.com