Writing for Fun
May 2015
The First Time - Jeanette Rothwell
I was in the sixth form at Parliament Hill Grammar School for Girls and had borrowed the book from the Library. We had a particularly boring lesson purporting to cover Current Affairs and the teacher was equally as boring. Our desks were the sort where the top opened like a lid so you could keep your stationery, etc. inside. I was engrossed in 'Pride and Prejudice' so I opened up the book and laid it inside my desk. Each time the teacher turned to write something on the blackboard, I surreptitiously opened the lid of my desk to carry on reading about the courtship of Elizabeth by Mr Darcy and her sister Jane's relationship with Mr Bingley. Heady stuff!
Years later I was glued to the television when the BBC serialised the story with Colin Firth as Mr Darcy. He made my heart flutter well before he dived into the lake on his estate emerging with his sexy clinging shirt, much to Elizabeth's astonishment.
There was also a film starring Keira Knightley but squashing such a fine novel into under 2 hours meant that many of Jane Austen's fine language was missed out and I found it very disappointing.
I had been running a Youth Theatre for some years, mainly directing many of their performances, when the adult section of our amateur theatre asked me to direct a play for them, the choice was up to me. I did a lot of research and the first time I directed for them, I found the play 'Hobson's Choice' worked extremely well with the available cast. I was then asked to direct again, and this time I hit upon an adaptation of 'Pride and Prejudice' for the stage.
Auditions were held and I was very pleased to cast Mr and Mrs Bennett, Elizabeth, Jane, etc. Then came the audition for Mr Darcy and an extremely good looking young man appeared on stage. He was well spoken, had a resounding voice, and was obviously keen to play the part. I wondered about his rather stiff manner in delivering lines but thought that it would fit in with the Darcy character and I could work on his acting skills. Sadly, this young man never improved beyond his audition performance and in spite of my encouragement and direction, he continued to deliver his lines stiffly, even when he was declaring his love for Elizabeth. For me it was a disappointment but the play was well received and the rest of the cast were very good which somewhat made up for his lack of acting skills.
To this day I still enjoy dipping into Pride and Prejudice and can still watch the DVD of the BBC production.
Although Jane Austen ties up a lot of loose ends in the book, some of the adaptations of the novel end with Mrs Bennett boasting that she has three daughters married and two still to go; Mr Bennett, having initially moaned about young men having to be entertained for the sake of his daughters, remarks 'If any young men come for Mary or Kitty, send them in, for I am quite at leisure.' Jane Austen's humour and excellent observation of comic characters shine through in my favourite novel.