Pride & Prejudice Radio Spot

Susan Ferley talks about Pride and Prejudice

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CO-SPONSORED BY ERNST & YOUNG AND SCOTIABANK GROUP

Opening Night: March 19 2010 

A spirited and playful story of love and life in the English countryside.
With five eligible daughters, Mrs. Bennet is frantically searching for suitable husbands. But finding a husband for the lively and quick-witted Elizabeth may be challenging when she rejects the advances of dark and mysterious Mr. D’Arcy. 

Additional Information

Elegant and simple: The costumes of Pride and Prejudice

Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen is set in the early 19th century, known as The Regency Era.  Costume Designer, Gillian Gallow, says there was no question as to whether or not they would change the period in The Grand Theatre production.  “The era is synonymous with Jane Austen. The images we all have of Elizabeth and Darcy are in Regency style costume,” Gallow explains.  “It is a truly beautiful period that embodies the romanticism of the story.”

The classic love story is told from the viewpoint of the headstrong Elizabeth.  Gallow describes our heroine’s style as elegant, simple and feminine.  “This is Elizabeth’s story…I must dress her so she pops off the stage,” says Gallow.  The costume designer decided to dress Elizabeth in the most classic of the Regency style, which are creams and whites.  “She is, however, a strong individual so I chose to accent her costume with rusts and reds. On a very natural coloured set, that will further enhance her presence,” she says. 

One of the difficulties Gallow found was adapting modern sensibilities to a different period.  “With men it is always a challenge to get them to pull their pants up to their waists,” Gallow muses.  “With women it is difficult to accept a much more conservative style as fashionable and sexy.”

To prepare for the large production, Gallow admits she watched every Regency version of Pride and Prejudice she could find (e.g. BBC’s 1995 version of Pride and Prejudice starring Colin Firth).  “I believe that when you are working with a story that people know and have a distinct image of it, it is helpful to be aware of the archetypes so you can choose to break or accept them,” she explains.

Gallow chose to accept them.  Women will be draped in gauzy cotton, in light, loose fitting dresses, known as the empire gown.  The men will be wearing what is referred to as the ‘dandy style’ with snug fitting jackets and pants of plain wool.  “Men had their fun in the colour combinations they could achieve with their jackets, vest and breeches.  The most extravagant part of their clothing was the neckwear,” she explains.  “With the collar worn upward and cravats tied in many styles, men could spend an entire morning dressing their necks.” My, how things have changed!

Come see the classic love story brought to life on The Grand’s MainStage from March 10 to April 3. 

Mr Darcy: Costume Design by Gillian Gallow