Clague Playhouse’s ‘The Wickhams” is a delightful change from the usual holiday fare

The “Christmas At Pemberley” trilogy by Lauren Gunderson and Margot Melcon have the distinction of being the most widely produced plays in the country and with good reason. Taken from characters found in Jane Austen’s beloved characters from “Pride and Prejudice” they focus on the Christmas season at the Pemberley estate.

This season, Clague Playhouse has embarked on the second of the series with “The Wickhams: Christmas at Pemberley” after having staged the first production “Miss Bennet: Christmas at Pemberley” last holiday season.

In this show, our attention is drawn to the servant's area in the downstairs portion of the manor. Last year’s show had Fitzwilliam Darcy (Stuart Hoffman) and his wife Elizabeth (Nicole Coury) welcoming family to celebrate the holidays in the upstairs rooms of the manor. In both shows, Elizabeth is on a mission to bring the German tradition of a Christmas tree into the house...something that Fitzwilliam is against. In the second installment, Elizabeth has once again smuggled a large tree into the house with the help of Brian, the footman (Corey Knick) and has placed it in the library much to Fitzwilliam’s dismay.

Elizabeth’s younger ditzy sister, Lydia (Jess Antrobus) has arrived minus her scoundrel of a husband, George Wickham. With all the guests arriving the house maid Mrs. Reynolds (Caroline Gehrke Kozsey) is in a dither as the family has hired a new girl to help out. Cassie (Sabrina Maristela) is a quick learner and a very hard worker who tries too hard to fit into the group of servants and guests.

More family members arrive and are made comfortable in their rooms, plans are made concerning the Christmas feast and the first buds of romance are appearing between Brian and Cassie. In the midst of this controlled chaos George Wickham (Jacob J. Lang) arrives being the worst for wear as he has been attacked by the brother of a girl he has put in the family way. As Mrs. Reynolds tends to his wounds, Cassie takes his torn clothes to clean and mend and finds a letter that tells all about the girl he has put into trouble. Soon the entire household is aware of the situation including Lydia as George is trying to convince her to come with him to Paris with her footing the bill.

This is a superbly done production with an ensemble of actors who are comfortable with their roles and interactions with each other. Stuart Hoffman is the consummate Lord of the manor whose actions and facial expressions speak louder than words. Nicole Coury as Lady Darcy is the perfect foil to her husband forcing him to not take life too seriously. Caroline Gehrke Kozsey as Mrs. Reynolds is the glue that keeps the household together. Corey Knick as the inventive footman Brian has all the manners of the position as well as Sabrina Maristela as Cassie with her interactions with the staff and upstairs family. Jess Antrobus as the seemingly scatterbrained Lydia Wickham plays the part to perfection right up to the time she changes over to a more level headed woman. Lastly, there is Jacob J. Lang as bad boy George Wickham who plays the part of the conniving Ne’er Do Well with panache and style. He is the man you love to hate.

The show is smartly directed by Curt Arnold. The lighting by Lance Switzer and sound by Bella Brehm are both superb. The costuming design by Jenniver Sparano is in a word luscious for both the men and women. It really makes the play. Mark Kobak floods the room with authentic looking props. Prior to the show beginning, a tribute to Ron Newell was made as this was the last project he worked on before his untimely demise. The set has an intimate yet functional feel.

If you are among the many who had the pleasure of seeing last year’s “Miss Bennet” you will find the same intriguing characters and situations with this year’s offering. It is a superbly acted period piece that gives us a glimpse of holiday life in the early 1900s England. This is a beautiful gem of a play that truly enhances the holiday season.

Also, don’t forget to check out the 16^th annual Jewelry Heist with all purchases “pay what you wish”.

Clague Playhouse’s “The Wickhams: Christmas At Pemberley” will be on stage at 1371 Clague Road, Westlake, Ohio through December 145, 2025. For tickets and more information go to http://www.clagueplayhouse.org or call (440) 331-0403.