“If this is Jane Austen ‘sort of’, then I’m all for this kind of theatrical mischief!”
There are some nights at the theatre when you simply sit back and think, well, that was fun! And then there are productions that have you laughing, watching the clock and wondering how five performers can possibly keep changing characters, voices, personalities and costumes at the speed they do — without missing a beat.
Opening night of Pride and Prejudice (sort of) at QPAC’s Playhouse Theatre certainly made an impact, and calling this production a theatrical romp is absolutely spot on.
I have seen some magnificent theatre over the years, but this clever and wonderfully cheeky adaptation of Jane Austen’s much-loved classic is certainly one of the most entertaining and inventive interpretations I have experienced.
Forget expecting a traditional retelling of Pride and Prejudice. This is Jane Austen with the volume turned up, the rule book thrown out and a very talented cast having an enormous amount of fun with the material.
And what a cast it is.
Amy Lehpamer, Zoe Ioannou, Kaori Maeda-Judge, Ruby Shannon and Teo Vergara take on the enormous challenge of bringing an entire world of characters to life — and they do it with extraordinary energy, precision and comic timing.
What impressed me most was the sheer speed of the character transformations. One moment you are watching one character and, seconds later, the performer has completely shifted into someone else. The changes in voice, physicality and personality are so quick that you find yourself thinking, far out, how did they just do that?
And importantly, there wasn’t a hiccup in sight.
That is no small achievement when you consider the complexity of what these performers are being asked to do. It requires not only exceptional acting and musical theatre skills, but an incredible level of concentration and trust between the cast.
There is a wonderfully strong female creative and performance presence throughout this production, and each performer brings something distinctive to the stage. Whether delivering a musical number, switching characters, playing directly to the audience or landing one of the many wonderfully ridiculous moments, they absolutely own it.
The production’s cleverness also comes from knowing exactly when to be theatrical and when to completely break the rules. It takes the familiarity of Austen’s story and gives it a fresh, modern musical-comedy heartbeat.
Much of that success comes down to the direction. Original production director Isobel McArthur, who also wrote the adaptation after Jane Austen, has created a production with a very clear comic rhythm, while co-director Simon Harvey helps maintain the extraordinary pace and precision that keeps everything moving.
And believe me, this show moves!
It is bold, playful, clever and completely aware of the audience. It knows what it is doing and, most importantly, it invites us to have fun along the way.
Produced by Neil Gooding Productions and Woodward Productions, by arrangement with David Pugh Limited, this is exactly the kind of production that reminds you why live theatre can be such a wonderful experience.
Brisbane, we really are spoilt for entertainment — and Pride and Prejudice (sort of) is another reason why.
So, if you were thinking you could casually wait before booking your ticket, I wouldn’t wait too long.
Because you may not be rushing to get a ticket — you might soon be screaming for one!
And if you miss out, you’ll be the one screaming “I should have booked!”
Pride and Prejudice (sort of) is playing at QPAC’s Playhouse Theatre from 30 September to 18 October 2026.
For lovers of Jane Austen, musical theatre, comedy — or simply a great night out — this is one theatrical romp worth catching.
Caroline Russo Review
