Jane Austen’s mastery of manners and morals is on full display in Christopher Baker’s stage adaptation of her beloved masterpiece, Pride and Prejudice. In the Bennet sisters’ world, marriage is the prize, but for second-eldest, Lizzy, companionship trumps blind courtship. Enter Mr. Darcy, and one of literature’s most iconic and tempestuous romances takes flight. Journey through a world quite unlike–and yet perhaps not so different from–our own, as Lizzy and Darcy learn that first impressions aren’t all they seem, and that second chances can lead to answers that have been there the entire time.

While respectful of Austen, [Baker] does not aim for mere imitation or by-the-numbers re-creation; the dialogue sounds authentic and natural. This is, above all, an entertaining work of theater… Most impressive, perhaps, is how Baker does all of this without making it feel forced. Even though we know right from the get-go that ever-so-independent-minded Elizabeth Bennet and haughty Mr Darcy will eventually overcome their initial dislike for each other, their journey remains intriguing, each bump in the road delivering sufficient jolt, with the final destination delivering a true emotional payoff. Note, too, the abundant humor. This PRIDE AND PREJUDICE gets a good deal of amusing mileage from Austen’s deft targeting of stuffiness, hypocrisy and social machinations–traits all too prevalent in our day, too, as you might have noticed.

Tim Smith, Baltimore Sun