Pride stays faithful in 3-hour adaptation

Theater legend Jon Jory's adaptation of Pride and Prejudice, currently playing at PlayMakers Repertory Company, skillfully reworks Jane Austen's masterpiece, complete with multiple love triangles, cross-country journeys and witty dialogue-all within three hours.

Led by noted guest director Timothy Douglas, the play features a contemporary, multiracial cast in this 19th-century classic of the Bennett family's search for love and prosperity through marriage. Like most adaptations, Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy's relationship forms the crux of the story, but Jory's version also highlights lesser affairs between Jane and Mr. Bingley and between Lydia and Mr. Wickham.

To compensate for the extended plot, the story whisks along at a rapid speed with scene changes, monologues and narration occurring every few minutes and sometimes simultaneously. The bulk of Pride of Prejudice, comprising narration, dialogue and letters, is worked in seamlessly. In fact, 97 percent of the script is pulled directly from the book.

Douglas uses elegant costumes and a minimalist set to emphasize the proper decorum. The simple grandeur and limited props keep the focus on the characters and their complicated love triangles. In a recent performance, the intimate cast capitalized on the surprisingly small stage, especially during the ballroom scenes where a few actors create the illusion of a full dancing party.

All the actors perform their parts convincingly, but the roles of Mr. Darcy and Mr. and Mrs. Bennett shine in particular. Several, though, seem miscast for their roles. The noticeable height difference between Elizabeth and her counterparts detracts from the headstrong and rebellious nature that characterizes our lead heroine. Similarly, the play's pretty and spirited Charlotte Lucas, a plain and drab character in the novel, outshines a few of the more prominent actors.

Pride and Prejudice is running through April 19 at PlayMakers Repertory Company in Chapel Hill. Visit www.playmakersrep.org for more information.