Reviewed by Nigel Chester
Mr Darcy Loses the Plot is the latest production by Lip Service Theatre – “Britain’s favourite literary lunatics”, currently touring the country. We were fortunate to enjoy the performance at the Garrick Theatre in Litchfield.
The comedy acting duo, Maggie Fox and Sue Ryding, presented an evening’s entertainment that captivated the audience from the start.
During the performance, we met a number of famous women authors, Jane Austen being the principal, we see Mr Darcy, displeased with the direction his storyline is going and bored by the lulls in Austen’s writing, as she takes tea, visits her father’s parishioners or is off buying ribbons. Mr Darcy, in his own words “a strong outdoor swimmer” leaves Austen’s world and swims seamlessly into Du Maurier’s, Rebecca, only to return when things got a little too hot to handle.
The set, very simple in construction, must have taken many hours to complete, comprised of a number of quilted panels, inspired, apparently by Austen’s own work, each depicting scenes from the show and produced by community groups nationwide, the audience being urged to help complete the remaining blank panel and at the end of the play, invited to the “Mr Darcy Loses the Plot, quilting forum” on Facebook.
The evening ran very smoothly and whilst just fun and joyous, it also made one examine how much and also, how little, women’s roles in society have changed over the past 200 years or so. The narrator and author was interrupted by her elderly father to sort out his problems, much as Austen was expected to be the perfect genteel daughter of her day, their work seemingly trivial.
The play was funny, clever and thought provoking, when Beatrix Potter’s rabbits were introduced, Flopsy, Mopsy, Cottontail and Derek, the audience howled with laughter. Darcy did a passable impression of an egg-bound Jemima Puddle-duck, but looked more relieved to be back to the thigh slapping, aloof, love interest of Elizabeth Bennet, this portrayal was well thought out, unlike the literal two dimensional, Charles Bingley.
Darcy’s escapades into other novels gave us a great deal of entertainment, learning to dance, swimming or playing with the dog, not least his role as Jem Wilson, in Elizabeth Gaskell’s “Mary Barton”, complete with flat cap, ferret and an “Eee by gum”, returning to his estate in Austen’s novel again, when the going got too tough, each cameo giving a raucous laugh, but also an understanding of the social restraints of the time.
This play is currently touring and if you are lucky enough to find it in your area, treat yourself to a night of delight and escape.
Rating: 5/5
For other shows at the Lichfield Garrick visit www.lichfieldgarrick.com or call the box office on 01543 412121.
Lichfield Garrick Theatre, Castle Dyke, Lichfield, WS13 6HR | 01543 412121
