The University of Rhode Island’s Theatre Department retold a classic story with a modern touch as their production of “Pride and Prejudice” came to a close on Sunday.
URI gave its performance of “Pride and Prejudice” based on of Kate Hamill’s version of the play, which takes a more modern and fun approach than the original version of the story written by Jane Austen, according to Amelia Connor-McCoy, a third-year student who played the role of Lydia Bennet in the production.
Both the cast and crew have been working on this production since the first week of classes, according to Connor-McCoy. The production of “Pride and Prejudice” was a quick effort with about six weeks of rehearsals and two weeks of performances.
“Within the first week, you audition, get cast and get into rehearsals immediately,” Connor-McCoy said. “Because we did not have much time.”
Connor-McCoy felt like with this show, she probably had the most learning experience since this was her biggest role that she has played in a URI theater production to date.
She said she also learned lessons on audience engagement and committing to a stage presence and sticking to it.
Connor-McCoy said that she learned a lot about how to not feel embarrassed, noting that while performing, you could feel like you’re being too silly or unsure if it is going to come across the right way. But she learned to trust the process and to get over that initial fear of the audience rejecting it.
Another problem Connor-McCoy struggled with was balancing school and performance, but she said she enjoyed keeping busy.
“You go through tough spots where you have to decide, ‘Do I want to memorize my lines? Or do my homework?’” Connor-McCoy said.
Connor-McCoy said she has been looking forward to playing a role in this play since the summer because she is a huge fan of “Pride and Prejudice.”
“Being in ‘Pride and Prejudice’ was a dream come true,” Connor-McCoy said.
Playing Lydia Bennet wasn’t Connor-McCoy’s first choice of character – she originally wanted to play Lizzie Bennet, the main character. But she wasn’t disappointed playing Lydia, and as she spent time rehearsing, she learned that she could play Lydia better.
“I mean, like everybody, I’m sure I would have loved to be Lizzie, because Jane Austen is such a great author; the way she writes Lizzie, she’s relatable to almost anyone,” Connor-McCoy said. “Then I realized that I love Lydia… she’s just so fun and silly, and I understood her character really well, since I already knew the story so well.”
Since this version of Lydia in Kate Hamill’s play is 14, while in the book she’s 16, it called for a much more childlike, happy and innocent approach, according to Connor-McCoy.
“One of the most important things I’ve learned as an actor is that you should not judge your character,” Connor McCoy said. “Lydia is a somewhat annoying, naive, 14-year-old girl who goes and makes a very bad decision for herself… and I can’t judge her for that because she’s me. I’m playing her.”
Out of all of the performances given, Connor-McCoy enjoyed opening night and closing night the most. She felt like those audiences were more engaged and more willing to laugh and have fun with the characters on stage.
The next shows coming from the URI Theatre Department will be two one-act plays. “Free Range Chickens” and “The Dumb Waiter” will be showing in the J-Studio at the Fine Arts Center from Dec. 4-7. Find more information on those shows on the URI Theatre Department’s website.
