"Pride & Prejudice (Sort Of)" By Isobel McArthur after Jane Austen

Nottingham Theatre Royal.

By the title, I had the idea that this would not be a straight forward version of the Jane Austen novel. A novel that I have read once and was completely indifferent to the romantic classic. What I hadn't expected was for this to have a string of pop classics interwoven as its' soundtrack, or for it to be as comical as it is.

The plot follows the Austen novel, in a contemporary setting with modern, and fruity language. The all-female cast play multiple characters, both servants and gentry, re-telling the novel's events through the servants' eyes while also performing well-chosen karaoke songs at pivotal moments.

Now, while I was not a fan of the book, there have been several versions of "Pride & Prejudice" in film and play form, even one that involves zombies, so it shows that the ingredients of this recipe has many flavours. This production now may make me revisit the book, you never know!

Leah Jamieson, Lucy Gray, Emma Stonelake, Megan Louise Wilson, Dannie Harris and Laura Soper are the sextet of multi talented actors who sing, dance, act and play instruments on stage, As you can imagine, by the length of the Austen novel, the action is very pacy.

Directed by Isobel McArthur and Simon Harvey, they have created a comic masterpiece from a romantic classic, beloved by so many. I have a feeling that the book might be revisited by a few more people than I, even if it were to make a comparison. Not only was the whole stage used, but even entrances through the auditorium in to the stage, as well as audience participation as the cast constantly smash that fourth wall, creating a lovely, warm connection with their audience.

Set Design by Ana Inés Jabares-Pita, a multi levelled set incorporating a sweeping staircase which was purely majestic. Classy set with modern touches, and look out for the in jokes with some of the props.

Musical Supervision by Michael John McCarthy, combining karaoke with musical intervention using real instruments, as previously stated, played by several cast members. What versatility!

Choreography by Emily Jane Boyle. There's a lot of dancing in here, most of it typical of what you'd see on the dancefloor at Prizm (other nightclubs are available) by a group of hen night members. This in itself provides many comic moments with the moves that are bust. It really is great fun.

The costumes are fantastic as well, just take a look at the photos.

If an evening out partly extracting the urine from a classic piece of literature with some classic karaoke songs like "Holding Out For A Hero", "Dedicated To The One I Love", "Every Day I Write The Book", "Lady In Red" and "Young Hearts Run Free", then this show is for you. It was definitely for me because I loved it to bits.

"Pride & Prejudice (Sort Of)" is at the Nottingham Theatre Royal until Saturday 1 April.