Pride and Prejudice

The SELAH Spotlight Performers have begun rehearsals for their semester performance of Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice. We were able to accommodate a large cast with the many roles made available in this adaptation of Austen's original text.  Each role is significant to the story and will be a delight when brought to life by our talented students.

 The difficult task of blocking the play has begun and we have already made it through five scenes!  Working with such a large cast can be tedious for the actors at times, as they have to wait for entrances and cues; but we appreciate each student giving their utmost attention and patience as the final outcome will be a cohesive, interesting and hopefully, exciting production of Pride and Prejudice!

While in class, and throughout rehearsals, discussion of the text will facilitate a deeper understanding of each actors character.  The last few rehearsals have been dominated with the blocking of the first "ball" scene wherein Elizabeth meets Mr. Darcy.

Dances figure prominently in Jane Austen’s novels. Whether performed in public assembly rooms in Meryton or in private at the Netherfield Ball, dances offered social opportunities for young people to mix and mingle and converse in an acceptable fashion. On our first seeing Mr. Darcy, he rejects Bingley's suggestion to dance with Elizabeth.  According to Regency manners, it was extremely rude for a man to leave a woman without a partner.  Although, also according to Regency etiquette, Darcy would have been exempt from asking any young lady to dance if he was not properly introduced.  For these reasons, one can understand Elizabeth's strong reaction when overhearing Darcy's rejection to Mr. Bingley's offer to introduce them.

During this era people were often judged for their ability to dance skillfully, and a gentleman was pressured to cut a fine figure on the dance floor.  Therefore, when Sir William surmised by his appearance that Mr. Darcy must be a man of high society, he was paying him a great compliment.  Of course, when he attempts to introduce Elizabeth to Darcy, she this time refuses to dance with him.  Her statement "I have not the least intention of dancing," also was a breach of Regency etiquette, since it was uncivil for a woman to turn down a gentleman partner unless she had already danced two dances with him.  According to this same etiquette, she should mean by her statement that she would not dance at all that night, but she does accept a dance with Mr. Bingley before the night is over.  Although, Elizabeth does not necessarily adhere to the social restraints placed on her, she still considers herself a lady, and certainly "a gentleman's daughter," and perhaps if her pride had not been so injured, she would have most likely enjoyed the chance to make a new acquaintance.