By Elizabeth Pickens

On Friday December 9, members of JASNA Greater Phoenix attended Arizona Theatre Company’s “The Wickhams: Christmas at Pemberley.” The play was presented at the Herberger Theatre where we sat together as a group. This year’s presentation from the series of plays written by Lauren Gunderson and Margot Melcon was similar to last year’s: Miss Bennet: Christmas at Pemberley” which followed Mary Bennet as she visited her newly married sister Elizabeth at her new home in Pemberley, 

This year’s play took place in the same time period as last year’s play but in the downstairs kitchen of the great estate. There were only seven characters:  Cassie(a servant girl) Brian (a male servant), Mrs, Reynolds (head of the servants), Mr. and Mrs. Darcy, and Lydia and George Wichkham. Brian was played by the same actor who played Arthur, Mary’s love interest, last year.  

Spoiler alert! (Sort of). Christmas is upended at Darcy’s home when George Wickham shows up uninvited and unwelcome. Cassie’s new position is put in danger when Brian misinterprets her interactions with the manipulative Wickham. Cassie also discovers a mysterious letter when doing Wickham’s laundry that could have serious repercussions for the philandering husband, Although I thought the plot was not as developed as last year’s shenanigans and comedies of error, the play was still a delight and an imaginative extension of our beloved Pride and Prejudice. 

At the play’s end, the actors sang “We wish you a merry Christmas” and sent us off with good cheer! I cannot wait for next year’s production “Georgiana and Kitty: Christmas at Pemberley!”

Click each of the photos above to see them more clearly.