Love, Drama and Biscuits: BTE presents The Wickhams: Christmas at Pemberley

Buffalo Theatre Ensemble presents the second of the Christmas at Pemberley series by Lauren Gunderson and Margot Melcon now through Sunday, Dec. 15 at the MAC.

Photo: L-R Jamila Joiner as Cassie, and Danielle Kerr as Lydia Wickham. Photo by Rex Howard Photography.

“This is an evening of wonders, indeed!” wrote Jane Austen in Pride and Prejudice. Lauren Gunderson and Margot Melcon take Austen’s story further and install the main characters from Pride and Prejudice in a nineteenth-century-style drama, which is second in a trilogy, The Wickhams: Christmas at Pemberley. This funny and thought-provoking play, directed by Managing Artistic Director Emerita Connie Canaday Howard, is presented by Buffalo Theatre Ensemble now through December 15 at the Playhouse Theatre located at McAninch Arts Center.

Performances take place at 7:30 p.m. Thursday through Saturday and at 3 p.m. on Sunday. There is no show on Thursday, November 28, and there is an added 3 p.m. matinee on Saturday, November 30. There will be an American Sign Language performance at 7:30 p.m. on Thursday, December 5.

Interestingly, the servants play as important a role as their masters in this play while getting ready for the holiday celebration and discovering some issues related to one of the Bennet girls’ lives. The play takes place on the lower floor of the grand Pemberley Estate, particularly in the common room where servants gather and eat. The time depicted in the play is December 1815.

What do biscuits have to do with all that, you will ask. The biscuits play an important role as well: they soothe and calm, helping both servants and their masters resolve issues.

Photo: Clockwise from L Jamila Joiner as Cassie, Kelli Walker as Mrs. Reynolds, Robert Hunter Bry as Mr. Fitzwilliam Darcy and Beck Damron as Brian. Photo by Rex Howard Photography.

Just as Austen, Gunderson and Melcon depicted English middle-class life during the early 19th century and demonstrated domestic realism with full accuracy and satire. The upstairs, with masters and family, and the downstairs, with servants, collide in an intriguing story that involves both levels of society and that shows their human features, behaviors, characteristics, and reactions to unfolding events.

Both masters and servants love biscuits, which are always sitting on the table downstairs and silently watching what’s happening around them.

What exactly do they see? George Wickham, Lydia’s unruly husband and Mr. Darcy’s sworn enemy, arrives in the middle of the night during holiday preparations. Mrs. Reynolds (the head housekeeper), Brian (the footman), and new housemaid Cassie all get involved in the madness related to Lydia Wickham’s marriage. Cassie finds something that can bring that marriage to its end. What is it? A little spoiler – George is an attractive man and women love him, although his moral standards are low. Eventually, it leads to some unpleasant discoveries, although George is putting a good face on until he realizes his secret is being detected.

Lydia is the last one to find out her husband has arrived; she is happy to see him. How long does her happiness last? Only for a short time, until she discovers his secret.

The audience will enjoy this production by Buffalo Theatre Ensemble, the professional Equity theater company in residence at the McAninch Arts Center. Three actors from last year’s production of Miss Bennett, Robert Hunter Bry (Mr. Fitzwilliam Darcy), Paige Klopfenstein (Mrs. Elizabeth Darcy), and Danielle Kerr (Lydia Wickham), are reprising their characters from last year’s production, which is enjoyable for those who attended last year’s Miss Bennet production. Aly Greaves Amidei, who won a Jeff Award this past September for her costuming for last year’s Miss Bennet, is also doing costume design for The Wickhams.

Photo: L-R - Kelli Walker as Mrs. Reynolds and Paige Klopfenstein as Mrs. Elizabeth Darcy, Photo by Rex Howard Photography.

“I’m very excited about directing BTE’s production of ‘The Wickhams’,” said Canaday Howard. “It introduces important situations and subjects, like ‘Downton Abbey’ or ‘Upstairs Downstairs,’ but also has laughter, heart and holiday cheer. Audiences don’t have to have seen last year’s production of ‘Miss Bennett,’ nor do they have to be an expert in the world of Jane Austen to enjoy this holiday theatrical treat.”

Everyone on the stage and behind the scenes played their role and performed their duties in a brilliant manner, which resulted in a wonderful play. The role of George Wickham, one of the main and most controversial characters, is played by McGuire Price. The actor found the right way to demonstrate his character’s charisma, strong belief in his charm, deceptive mind, and slyness. You almost like him, until you find out something special about him.

Kelli Walker, a member of Buffalo Theatre Ensemble, became a perfect Mrs. Reynolds, with a strong yet understanding personality and wisdom. Jamila Joiner, member of Actors’ Equity Association, the Union of Professional Actors and Stage Managers, plays the role of Cassie in a brilliant manner. She is firm and demonstrates self-respect. Brian, with his smart mind, sense of humor, and fast analysis of the situation, is presented by Beck Damron.

Robert Hunter Bry is full of high self-esteem and honor, as Mr. Fitzwilliam Darcy, his character, demands. Paige Klopfenstein, who plays the smart and elegant Mrs. Elizabeth Darcy, knows how to demonstrate her character’s personality in a way that makes everyone smile and fall in love with her. Lydia Wickham is played by Danielle Kerr, with her ability to depict her character’s naïve personality and trustfulness.

The design team includes Richard Penrod and Jacqueline Penrod (Scenic Design), Aly Greaves Amidei (Costume, Hair and Makeup Design), Conchita Avitia (Lighting Design), Christopher Kriz (Composer and Sound Design), Isa Noe (Properties Design), and Neil Massey (SAFD Member) (Violence Director). The Stage Manager is Caitlin I. Quinn, and the Assistant Stage Manager is Vinny Scanio. Emily Sheehan is Student ASM (BTE Scholar).

“These characters are full of life: laughter, surprise, intrigue and much love,” wrote Canaday Howard in the Director’s Note. “The celebration of relationships which support one another, and, of course, because it is the Bennet/Darcy clan, of familial relationships, as well as the need to stand up for what’s right - for both one’s self and for those we care about - make this play both satisfying and heart-warming.”

Don’t miss this beautiful play that will touch your heart and make you think, wonder, and smile.

Please note that the play has adult themes and language.

For tickets, please go to https://atthemac.org/events/the-wickhams-christmas-at-pemberley/ or call 630-942-4000. The Box Office is open noon – 6 p.m. Tuesday-Saturday and two hours prior to performance.

Tickets are $42 for seniors and $44 for adults.

Natalia Dagenhart

11/19/24