One of the Arts Club Theatre’s Christmas gifts to Â鶹´«Ã½Ó³»this season is their production of Christmas at Pemberley, a modern imagined sequel to Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice.Ìý
One of the stars of this show is the immediately charming set by set designer Ted Roberts.Ìý It creates a large, elegant mansion atmosphere in the small confines of the theatre on Granville Island, with its open gazebo ceiling over the large drawing room and huge glass windows onto an outdoor scene.  There’s also a tall Christmas tree and even a view to part of the rest of the house.Ìý
The dialogue is witty and entertaining, and the actors stay very much in character with the original novel. Staid and prim Mary is now revealed to be bright and yearning for a wider life, excellently portrayed by Kate Dion-Richard, with a mixture of intelligence and gawkishness bringing the character to life.
Matthew MacDonald-Bain is equally awkward and believable as her hopeful suitor, and the rest of the cast bring the other original Austen characters to lively Regency life in elegant costumes by Amy McDougall.Ìý Baraka Rahmani is just as giddy as the original Lydia, and Carmela Sison is the reincarnation of her snobbish mother, Lady de Burgh.
A guaranteed entertainment for mind and eye, with suspense - as true love does not run smoothly - but with a welcome happy ending for  this festive season.Ìý The show runs till Dec. 30.ÌýÂ
See for information and tickets.
