Community

MCT’s ‘Pride and Prejudice’ empowers woman

Jan 13, 2014

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A history teacher at Maricopa High School gives Elizabeth Bennet and Mr. Darcy a fresh makeover in the Maricopa Community Theatre’s upcoming adaptation of Jane Austen’s “Pride and Prejudice.”

The play runs for 10 performances starting Friday.

When history teacher Danielle Crosbie decided to rewrite Austen’s masterpiece, she said she wanted something that hadn’t been done before.

Tired of seeing versions sacrifice the historical accuracy for added entertainment, she decided to put the women back into history and tell the story the way she believes Austen meant to tell it.

“Movie versions of ‘Pride and Prejudice’ give people a different idea of the era because that’s what we think women were at that point. As I read and reread the story and learned more about history, I realized that women were much more empowered, just in a different way then they are today,” Crosbie said.

It took six months for Crosbie and the rest of the Maricopa Community Theatre to get to this point.

“Usually we practice twice a week but now we’re getting close to the show and doing it five times a week from 7 p.m. until we feel done,” said assistant stage director Tanner Glen, 17.

“The biggest challenge has been getting the actors to delve into the characters,” said Glen. “It’s hard getting in a character Crosbie made as opposed to the ones they have seen in the movies or read in the book.”

Played by Maricopa Community Theatre owner and artistic director Carrie Vargas, Mrs. Bennet is described by Crosbie as usually being comedic “in a ditsy, non-intelligent way” and is quite different in this version.

Vargas said, “Mrs. Bennet is a lot different from other productions you would see; she’s usually stodgy and quiet. This character I liken to a Mrs. Cleaver mixed with Eddie Haskell.”

The workload is hefty for the cast and crew as they make their final preparations before opening night, but the crew remains confident they’ll be ready.

“I believe Jane Austen would be incredibly proud,” Crosbie said. “Her words finally came through the way we now know women were.”

The performance will also feature Judith Lang Zaimont, composer and coordinator for Maricopa Music Circle, and three of her fellow musicians playing era appropriate music selected by Zaimont and Crosbie.

Performances start 7 p.m. Friday at the Maricopa Community Theatre, 41600 W. Smith-Enke Road near the library. They continue: