With its high-waisted empire gowns and men鈥檚 tailored waistcoats, the upcoming holiday production of Miss Bennet: Christmas at Pemberley at the Chemainus Theatre will charm audiences with the distinctive elegance of the Regency era.
But beyond the traditional setting, the play weaves contemporary themes with family dynamics, personal growth and self-discovery.
The holiday production features witty dialogue, comedy, romance, and a festive atmosphere that is sure to delight audiences.
Set two years after the events of Jane Austen鈥檚 Pride and Prejudice, Miss Bennet: Christmas at Pemberley finds Elizabeth and Darcy happily married and hosting Christmas at Pemberley. This time, however, the story belongs to middle daughter, Mary Bennet, who steps out of her sisters鈥� shadows and into the spotlight.
No matter the time period, family dynamics are always complex, especially around the holidays, and playwrights Lauren Gunderson and Margot Melcon make 19th-century family life feel surprisingly contemporary.
The cast and director of Miss Bennet: Christmas at Pemberley found plenty to draw from in their own lives to bring their characters to life.
Cowichan-based director Jessica Schacht (who directed last season鈥檚 The Fianc茅e at Chemainus Theatre) emphasizes that you don鈥檛 have to be an Austen fan to enjoy this story.
鈥淭here's still plenty to really relate to with the dynamics of a family coming together for Christmas and the stresses and joys,鈥� Schacht said.
鈥淥ne of the things that I really enjoy about this story is that it's about the expectations that people can put on you, and how someone can cope with, or rise above, those expectations to become more of who they are and share that with somebody.鈥�
Of course, it wouldn鈥檛 be a holiday heartwarmer without a love story, and in true Austen fashion, the romance is intertwined with Mary鈥檚 journey of self-discovery.
Audiences can expect a delightful mix of comedy, romance and heartfelt moments as she navigates her role within her family and her developing relationship with an unexpected guest. The elegant costumes, designed by Crystal Hanson, and the period set design by Karyn McCallum wrap the experience up with a festive bow.
Mary is played by Rebbekah Ogden, who also appeared in The Fianc茅e last season. Playing one of five sisters wasn鈥檛 much of a stretch for Ogden. Being the sister who does things her own way was familiar to her too.
Ogden, who grew up in Alberta and Saskatchewan and is one of nine sisters, often felt out of step with her family鈥檚 dynamics. While her sisters bonded over traditional milestones like marriage and raising children, Ogden found herself drawn to discussions of world events and politics and said she would just think, 鈥淐an we talk about something else?鈥�
In exploring the character of Mary, Ogden quickly realized she had a lot to draw on from her own sibling relationships, leading to discoveries about her character as well as her relationship with her sisters.
鈥淚n my family, there's a little bit of tension between the younger sisters and the older sisters because when we all get together, the older sisters will just chat amongst ourselves and completely exclude them,鈥� Ogden said.
Rehearsing a scene in which Mary enters and sisters Lizzie and Jane continue their own conversation and ignore her, Ogden felt the sting of exclusion and realized, 鈥淥h my gosh, that's what we do!鈥� she said.
A couple of years ago, when Ogden and her husband (also an actor) decided to convert a van into their travelling home and live van life full time, driving across the country for work and pleasure, she once again established herself as the sister who does things her own way.
That sense of being an outsider is a defining trait of Mary Bennet in Miss Bennet: Christmas at Pemberley. After her elder sisters marry, Mary is left alone with her books, music, and a mind full of ideas.
Schacht was intrigued by who Mary had become in the two years since her sisters left the family home.
鈥淸Mary was] allowed to indulge in the pianoforte and her father's library,鈥� said Schacht. This allowed her to develop and grow as a person no longer in the shadow of her sisters. But as any adult who has returned home to spend a holiday with their family knows, we often fall back into old patterns.
鈥淢ary has to kind of fight to be seen as the woman that she has become rather than the one that everybody knew her as before they left the house,鈥� said Schacht.
Co-star Connor Lucas, who plays Mr. Darcy鈥檚 visiting cousin Arthur De Bourgh, is thrilled by the trappings of the Regency era. His wardrobe includes standout pieces like striped breeches and a shell-patterned waistcoat in vibrant peacock colours.
鈥淎lmost all of the pieces I'm wearing and the majority of the costumes in the show have all been handmade in-house here by [Hanson] and her team, which I will say is certainly a luxury that you don't find everywhere,鈥� Lucas said. 鈥淭hey're beautiful fabrics and custom fitted to our bodies.鈥�
But like Schacht and Ogden, Lucas sees timeless themes in the story.
鈥淲hen you first read a play that's set a long time ago, those things come to mind; how we're different. They had different clothes, they spoke slightly differently,鈥� Lucas said. 鈥淏ut ultimately, every play is about people. The emotions and wants are just the same as any person today who finds himself wanting love and not being able to get it. So it feels just as modern as any play that's set today.鈥�
As audiences gather for Miss Bennet: Christmas at Pemberley, they鈥檒l find more than a continuation of Jane Austen鈥檚 world 鈥� they鈥檒l discover a charming story that could have been set in any time period. Whether you love Austen or are simply in search of a festive escape, this play offers the perfect holiday outing.
Miss Bennet: Christmas at Pemberley runs Nov. 22 鈥� Dec. 22 at Chemainus Theatre. Tickets are available at or by calling 250-246-9820. You'll want to get them soon as some of the dates for the show are already sold out.
