Clague Playhouse’s ‘Miss Bennet-Christmas at Pemberley’ is a wonderful holiday gift

It’s that time of year once more, the holidays where we are bombarded with forced cheeriness in the form of holiday shows. Too many are repeats (you know the list) but ever so often a new yule tide production hits the stage that is unique and fresh and well worth noting.

This year that show is “Miss Bennet: Christmas at Pemberley” at Clague Playhouse. It is a sequel to Jane Austen’s popular novel “Pride and Prejudice” that continues the tale of the Bennet sisters two years after the marriage of Jane, Elizabeth and Lydia. In a word it is a delight and should not be missed.

Middle sister Mary Bennet (Sabrina Maristela) is still unmarried having been tasked to take care of her parents as she spends her days self educating herself in her father’s extensive library and learning a variety of Beethoven works on the piano forte. It is Christmas time and the Bennet sisters with husbands in tow will soon arrive at the Pemberley estate, home of Lord Fitzwilliam Darcy (Stuart Hoffman) and wife Elizabeth Darcy, formerly Bennet (Nicole Coury). The Darcys are to be joined by Charles Bingley (Aseem Garg) and a very pregnant Jane Bingley, formerly Bennet (Eliza Rodriguez), Lydia Wickham formerly Bennet who is traveling alone without her husband Wickham, Mary Bennet and Arthur De Bourgh, a friend of the Darcys.

Lizzy is putting the final decorative touches to the house when her husband enters the room to find an undecorated Christmas tree in front of the window. Lizzy explains that it is a German tradition introduced by Queen Charlotte wife of King George III. While not entirely happy with the idea of foliage being brought inside the house he never the less concedes to his wife and her holiday whims. They talk about the passing his aunt, Lady Catherine De Bourgh who had years ago plotted to marry her daughter Anne (Gabrielle Perine) to Mr. Darcy but thankfully without success. Lady De Bourgh appears not to have been very well liked during her lifetime as she had a tendency to meddle.

Fitzwilliam then reveals that he has invited Anne’s cousin Lord Arthur De Bourgh to spend the holidays with them. Lizzy is more than happy with another guest as her motto is “the more the merrier”. Arthur is a bit of a social misfit who spends much of his time at Oxford University reading. Arthur is not comfortable wearing the mantle of Lord and the inheritance of Aunt Catherine’s estate. First to arrive is Jane and husband Charles. Jane and Lizzy are soon talking about all the letters from Lydia proclaiming how wonderful married life is and her devotion to her husband. The two sisters doubt the validity of her letters as it had been a forced marriage when the two ran away and were caught by Fitzwilliam and forced to choose matrimony rather than being publicly ostracized.

As the guests have arrived, Mary is alone with her book in the parlor as Arthur arrives. It quickly becomes apparent that Mary and Arthur are perfectly suited for each other. They are even reading the same high brow book on theories of evolution. Their love of self education and music and the fact that they are a bit nerdy makes them a seemingly a perfect match. This problem of both of them being socially stunted makes it hard for them to connect at first but in spite of this obstacle they soon find themselves enamored as they find many similar hobbies between them.

Next to arrive is Lydia who is brash to say the least. It soon becomes apparent that married life is not all a bed of roses for Lydia. Seeing that Mary and Arthur are indeed a perfect match the other couples begin to conspire to bring them together. The men begin counseling Arthur on how to woo and the sisters begin their work on Mary. What they do not realize is that Mary and Arthur’s courtship needs no help at all.

Lydia on the other hand is desperately lonely in her marriage and decides to flirt with Arthur much to Mary’s consernation. She writes him a note trying to tempt him but puts it in Mary’s book by mistake. It soon becomes clear what is about and the courtship between Mary and Arthur seems to be full steam ahead. Just then Arthur’s cousin, Anne De Bourgh (Gabrielle Perine) arrives to announce that Arthur has been promised by her mother, Lady Catherine de Bourgh, to be her husband and that they are betrothed. This takes Mary quite by surprise but more importantly surprises Arthur even more as he has little love for his cousin and had not been informed of the promise.

This delightful little Christmas nugget has one of the greatest gatherings of cast ever to grace the stage of any professional or community theater in the Northeast Ohio region. The comedic timing is perfect, subtle and very very funny. Most notable is Stuart Hoffman as Fitzwilliam Darcy. His facial expressions, demeanor and body language give some of the most pleasing of comedy moments. He is funny without having to force it. Sabrina Maristela as Mary Bennet is cast perfectly as the coming of age sister determined not to be trapped being a caretaker for the rest of her life. She is also patient enough to wait until a proper suitor comes along. Jacob Lang as Arthur De Bourgh fits the role of the highly educated but nerdy friend to a “T” as you can see him fall for Mary’s charms.

Nicole Coury as Elizabeth is the perfect match to her husband, Fitzwilliam though strikingly shorter in height she makes up for the difference with real love and practicality. Eliza Rodriguez as Jane maneuvers around her very pregnant costume in a most convincing manner and is a perfect co-conspirator to Elizabeth. Aseem Garg plays the devoted husband Charles to his pregnant wife and is full of advice even when it is wrong. Then there is Ariana Starkman as the Methuselah haired Lydia who swoops down into a scene in full throttle throwing everything into disarray. Lastly, there is Gabrielle Perine as Anne who has Arthur in her sights and is not about to let him escape no matter what. At first we hate the character, then we understand her and lastly we see her change for the better.

The stage set by Ron Newell is absolutely exquisite with period furniture, well stocked library shelves, bay window, period wall paper and of course the sad little Christmas tree that is soon bedecked with ribbons and gems. The pace is kept to the quick by director Curt Arnold as the action unfolds at a leisurely yet measured pace. Sound by Bella Brehm and lighting by Jeff Lockshine is perfect for the enclosed space of the small stage area. Lisa L. Wiley has a fantastic array of props that are all period correct. It should also be noted that Robert Hawkes does an excellent job as dialect coach. The accents are subtle without sounding fake. They even have Corey Knick as a music consultant for Mary’s piano forte playing to lend an air of authenticity.

If you see only one Christmas themed show this season it really should be this one. The ensemble draws you into the action almost as if you are one of the family. It is a warm and comfortable feeling and should not be missed. Buy a ticket before they are all gone.

The Clague Playhouse production of “Miss Bennet” Christmas at Pemberley” will be on stage located at 1371 Clague Road, Westlake, Ohio through December 8, 2024. For more information and to order tickets go to www.clagueplayhouse.org or call (440) 331-0403.