Pride and Prejudice
at Chantilly High School

Reviewed on November 4, 2017

Caroline Thompson
Falls Church High School
Submitted for publication to Cappies News

Love is not a matter to be trifled with. It is cunning, complicated, and ever so conceited. But oh, does it have a way. In the early nineteenth century, love was like a rare and precious jewel; hard to find and even harder to keep. The scarcity of such an invaluable feeling was brought with the utmost fervor to Chantilly High School's stage in their production of Pride and Prejudice.

Written by Jane Austen in 1813 and set in 1812, Pride and Prejudice takes place in the Georgian era of harsh class divides and raging revolution. The story follows the lives of the Bennet family, a quaint but comfortable middle-class family with a doting mother, Mrs. Bennet, a cordial father, Mr. Bennet, and three eligible daughters. When two bachelors, Mr. Darcy and Mr. Bingley, come to town, the daughters' worlds turn upside down as love blazes through their unexpecting hearts.

Chantilly High School's production of Pride and Prejudice directed by Mrs. Shannon Khatcheressian enticed the audience and held them from the moment its curtains were drawn. The tireless cast and fastidious crew made for a lively and fast-paced show. The polished set immersed in tiny details was as fresh and real as the story itself. Jane Austen's tale of true yet treacherous love could not have found a better home if it tried.

The intelligent Elizabeth Bennet played by Aris Stovall was consistent with her character's staunch and fierce personality. Played with such passion, the anger and feminist voice of Miss Elizabeth Bennet came to life through the dexterous Stovall. The personality of such a woman made quite an impression on the young Mr. Darcy played by Alex Yee. A character of dark gentility, Yee's interpretation of Mr. Darcy with his deep and mystic voice as well as reserved personality was on par with the Mr. Darcy of Austen's fantasies. The two made for an enchanting and unlikely couple meant for the intricacies of love.

The romance between Mr. Darcy and Miss Elizabeth was subtly pushed along by the supporting cast, most notably the hilarious Mrs. Bennet and Mr. Bennet (played by Annie Silva and Zaid Al-Nouman), the innocent Mr. Bingley and Jane Bennet (played by Emanuele di Prima and Caroline Woodson), and the egregious Lady Catherine de Bourgh (played by Emily Ellen). The string quartet (consisting of Melody Su, Angus Chang, George Pekarsky, and Noah Dantinne) set the mood and time for the play.

The set, lighting, sound, and costuming was sensational. The set was cleverly simplistic with its easily switchable tri-walled set pieces and meticulous props. The projections behind the windows that changed from scene to scene were alluring, and aided significantly in setting the scene. The lighting was soft and never overpowering. The props were, for the most part, perfectly placed with not too much going on all at one time.

Chantilly High School's rendition of Pride and Prejudice was one for the books. In the end, the prejudice of a charismatic, intelligent woman met its match with the pride of a composed, perceptive man. Indeed, love could not have been fostered on more unstable ground, but as the cast and crew of Chantilly High School proved, sometimes, the purest and most real love is also the most unlikely.

Vaheed Talebian
Herndon High School
Submitted for publication to Cappies News 2

"It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good fortune, must be in want of a wife" (Austen 1). Or at least that's what the people of Hertfordshire believe. From England in the Regency Era to Chantilly High School in the 21st century, the Chantilly cast of "Pride and Prejudice" took upon themselves the responsibility of portraying the proud and the prejudiced of the Georgian Era, and did so in a most agreeable manner! With a myriad of characters and plot lines, the cast of "Pride and Prejudice" made the audience laugh, cry, sympathize, and detest, all within the first five minutes of the curtain opening.

The play "Pride and Prejudice" was adapted from the romantic comedy by Jane Austen, first published in 1813; it came to the stage in New York City from November 5th, 1935 to May of 1936. The play follows the protagonist, Elizabeth Bennet, the antagonist, Mr. Darcy, and the many familial connections that pull them together and apart. Throughout the play, the bachelors and bachelorettes of England search near and far for love, often guided by a motherly figure.

Despite minor flaws that arose during the showing, the cast was filled with energy and had a certain liveliness that sparked excitement and involvement. Elizabeth Bennet, played by Aris Stovall, stood out as a clear fan favorite, always standing up for her family and friends while stealing the hearts of anyone and everyone watching. Stovall portrayed Elizabeth and her emotions excellently and had the audience anxious for more of her stage presence. Alex Yee truly embraced the role of the Georgian hero, Mr. Darcy, with subtle blunt comments and surprising actions that sparked humorous gasps and shocked outcries. Mr. Bingley and Jane Bennet were the star-crossed lovers that motivated Mr. Darcy and Elizabeth to change and displayed a real sense of romance that dug into the hearts of the audience, played by Emanuele di Prima and Caroline Woodson, respectively. The comic relief provided by Mr. and Mrs. Bennet was a crucial part of the plot and had the audience on the edge of their chairs, portrayed by Zaid Al-Nouman and Annie Silva, respectively. Silva truly shined and fit her motherly persona superbly. From guiding her daughters to marriage to mocking her beloved husband, Silva left a huge impression on the audience. The interactions between the couples were both exuberant and everlasting.

Production crews that performed beyond the call of duty were the Sound Team, Projection Operators, the Hair & Makeup Team, Costuming Team, and the live orchestra. These groups all performed amazingly. From swift transitions to all the little details, these groups made sure the play would be remembered for months!

From the amazing cast to the outstanding crew, Chantilly High School made "Pride and Prejudice" an unforgettable and joy-filled experience for all audience members.

Donovan Fisher
Mount Vernon High School
Submitted for publication to FCPS Community News

True love is mutually earned, and affection cannot be bought. This is an essential theme seen throughout Chantilly High School's production of Pride and Prejudice. Based on the timeless Jane Austen novel of the same name, Pride and Prejudice is a romantic comedy set in 19th-century England. The story revolves around the romances of the Bennet family, as the parents attempt to wed their daughters Elizabeth, Jane, and Lydia to eligible bachelors. The focus is primarily on the middle daughter, Elizabeth, as she catches the fancy of the awkward but well-intending Mr. Darcy, and the heartbreak and inner turmoil that ensues from there. Throughout the show, Elizabeth must ask herself whether love means more than securing her family's future, and if she will ever share this love with another.

The Bennet household is one of intrigue and prestige, and the actors do a wonderful job at capturing the distinct Regency-era sensibilities. Elizabeth Bennet, portrayed by the charming Aris Stovall, captured the subtle intricacies and elegance of the era with charm and ease, portraying an enlightened girl who's self-determination and sense of identity drives every action with clear motivation and thought. Elizabeth's sisters Jane and Lydia (played by Caroline Woodson and Leah Copeland respectively), provide commentary on the era, shown through each sister's contrasting emotional moments. Managing the Bennet household is the mother, Mrs. Bennet, played by the delightful Annie Silva. Silva effortlessly chews the scenery of every scene she is in, showing the balancing act of mothering in wildly entertaining proportions. She provides much of the comedic relief throughout the show, through outrageously hilarious physical gestures and her bubbly dialogue.

The tech design is ambitious, and was achieved well. The costume design is spectacular, with obvious attention to detail put in by the Chantilly High School Costume Team. Many costumes were fully created or modified by the costume team, with hand-sewn details to create period-accurate designs. The hair and makeup team built upon these costumes to throw us into 19th-century England, using wigs to show the proper and tidy hair-styles of the era. Wigs can often be distracting in a high school production, and thankfully this show proves to be an exception with seamless use of the wigs for many cast members. The set design was astonishing, with each area wonderfully reflecting the class of the characters within it. The crew even refurbished the stage with wooden flooring to better recreate the time period. The Lighting Team made wonderful use of projections to add a sense of realism to the backdrops, with moving clouds and vast landscapes to fully immerse ourselves into the countryside without being too distracting.

Chantilly High School managed to create a marvelous display of wonder and delight through their production of Pride and Prejudice. The actors within it all had insanely high charisma and energy, never allowing for a dull moment on stage. Their performances managed to elevate the comedic aspects of the show, but still gave room to breathe for high emotion moments to stand out. The attention to detail put in by the technical departments is astonishing, with every strand of fabric or piece of furniture having a distinct purpose in immersing the audience into the show. In the end, Pride and Prejudice showed as a story that love can triumph over all, and the love and care put into the making of Chantilly High School's production happen exemplifies this idea.

Ryleigh Line
South Lakes High School
Submitted for publication to Patch.com

Those who have read Jane Austen's novel Pride and Prejudice are familiar with the flirtatious and oftentimes hilarious antics of the Bennet family and their acquaintances. Chantilly High School brought the stage adaptation of Pride and Prejudice not only to the stage, but into the audience's hearts with sequences of laughing, crying, and superfluous bowing.

Pride and Prejudice is a moving portrait of Georgian England during the Regency Era. The time period is suggested by the fact that the entire plot hinges upon the Bennet daughters finding suitable husbands to ease their mother's poor, poor nerves', as well as to ensure that the entire family does not fall destitute upon their father's death. The pursuits of the Bennet girls are accelerated when Mr. Bingley and Mr. Darcy, rich young gentlemen from the north, rent the manor of Nethersfield nearby to the Bennet's home. While Mr. Bingley falls almost immediately for the eldest Bennet, Jane, Mr. Darcy has a harder time warming up to the Bennet family. The protagonist, Elizabeth Bennet, has little appreciation for the wiles of marriage, and it is only after she overcomes her prejudice, and Darcy his pride, that they realize they may have misjudged each other initially. With the help of subplots and side characters, Pride and Prejudice leaves the audience with a stitch in their side and a tear in their eye.

Chantilly High School's Pride and Prejudice exceeded expectations, with every actor creating their own appropriate characterization for the pallet of characters. Each actor had distinct, if not perfect, accents that cemented the show in the English countryside. Actors played incredibly off of each other, creating tense moments that clenched the hearts of the audience, complemented by hilarious banter that elicited roaring laughter and surprised snorts from many audience members. The character choices of Alex Yee and Aris Stovall as Mr. Darcy and Elizabeth Bennet created palpable admiration and visible tension, which was supplemented by dramatic, well thought-out blocking. Contrasting with this, the sweet, subtle looks shared by Emanuele di Prima and Caroline Woodson as Mr. Bingley and Jane Bennet let the audience know the character's true feelings without the use of words. The audience was putty in the hands of Annie Silva as Mrs. Bennet, artfully playing up the meddling, easily perturbed mother of three young women. Something as small as pantomimed entrance from Silva milked uproar from the audience, which sometimes drew focus but often contributed to comedic tone.

On the technical side, the use of gobos to cast shadows on the sets allowed for a creative approach to placing the audience in the scene. The gobos said almost as much about the characters as their costumes, which were created almost solely by students, including the ornate beading on Elizabeth's ball gown. Such attention to detail was also present on the set, where the use of three spinning periaktos combined with windows provided for several possible set combinations. They adorned the set with a range of colorful wall designs and furniture to differentiate between households and social statuses, all while complying periodically with the direction of the script. These minute details, combined with period props, contributed as much to the story as the action. While some set adornments fell askew during the show, the attention to detail in the set and its dressings created a believably ornate background.

Pride and Prejudice at Chantilly High School was a wonderfully designed and performed show, creative in both technical and performing aspects. All facets of the show combined to create a charming retelling of Jane Austen's classic novel on the stage.

Julianne Cuevo
Flint Hill School
Submitted for publication to FCPS Student Voice

The etiquette, elegance, and splendor of Georgian England were brought to life in Chantilly High School's production of Pride and Prejudice.

The stage adaptation of Pride and Prejudice is based on Jane Austen's novel of the same name, published in 1813. Austen is known as the defining author of the Regency Era, the period in which King George III was not of sound mind, and his son, the future King George IV, was regent. The sharp wit and social commentary of Austen's writing have made her works a favorite of readers for decades. Austen's works have been favorites of readers for decades because of their sharp wit and social commentary. Pride and Prejudice is no exception; the story contains both humorous dialogue to amuse audiences and poignant moments that truly make them think. Jane Austen's tale of the Bennet sisters' quest for true love is meant to captivate and bring joy, and Chantilly High School does not disappoint.

As soon as the lights came up, the cast brought great energy to the stage. The performances of Zaid Al-Nouman and Annie Silva as Mr. and Mrs. Bennet respectively started off the flow of the play nicely. Nouman and Silva's repartee was a huge hit with the audience. Silva's uproarious movements and facial expressions, along with Nouman's exasperation with his wife's antics, were consistently hilarious.

The play contained a great many other talented performers, each of whom used their physicality to properly portray their own character and their relationships with others on stage. The actors did not remain static; the growth of each character was depicted well by each actor. Notable performances include that of Aris Stovall as Elizabeth Bennet. Stovall masterfully represented Elizabeth's character arc through her interactions with Mr. Darcy (Alex Yee). The pair beautifully showcased the changing relationship between the two characters and had the audience rooting for them for the entire show.

The show was also a technical success. Cast members donned extremely realistic wigs and beautiful makeup. The stunning three-sided set was large, but scene transitions were wonderfully smooth and efficient. The set also had different color palettes for each location, changing the atmosphere to fit the setting. Projections onto the windows of the set showed moving clouds in some scenes, and dancers and a live orchestra in another. All these elements served to fully immerse the audience into the Georgian era.

Chantilly High School put on an outstanding production of Pride and Prejudice that stayed true to its origins, displayed the talents of its gifted cast and crew, and reminded everyone that true love and happiness may be right in front of you; you just need to open your eyes.

Abbigail Alm
Potomac Senior High School
Submitted for publication to Connection

'It is a truth universally acknowledged that a single man in possession of a large fortune must be in want of a wife.' The opening first line in Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice rings more true for her characters than the Bennets' dressing-bell. Adapted from the novel in 1936, it was initially well received in London, despite having to make multiple cuts for the sake of time.

Revolving around the prejudiced Elizabeth Bennet and her doting mother urging her to find a husband, Elizabeth meets the prideful Mr. Darcy, a friend of their neighbor, Mr. Bingley. They immediately show a distaste for each other at the Bennet's ball, until Mr. Darcy proclaims his admiration for her to Mr. Bingley's sister, Caroline. Immediately following, Reverend Collins, a cousin of Mr. Bennet, declares that he will ask Elizabeth for her hand in marriage. Mr. Darcy suppresses his feelings and leaves to find Mr. Bingley, who had since fallen in love with Elizabeth's beautiful older sister, Jane. Mr. Darcy and Caroline convince Mr. Bingley that his feelings towards Jane are not reciprocated. Mr. Bingley leaves for London, as Jane anxiously awaits a letter from him. Jane decides to go to London herself to find the Bingley's, where she bumps into Caroline, who tells her that Mr. Bingley had since found a fiancé. Jane returns home, distraught by the news. Meanwhile, Mr. Collins, still staying with the Bennet's, is rejected by Elizabeth. Mr. Darcy, after getting word of this, makes his move on Elizabeth, only to be rejected as well; Elizabeth tells him that, because of what he told Mr. Bingley, Jane couldn't marry her true love.

Played by Alex Yee, Mr. Darcy was portrayed phenomenally, especially in the second act. Becoming a much more endearing character, he captured the audience's hearts and minds with his polished ideals and his proclamations of love to Elizabeth; played by Aris Stovall, she twists Elizabeth into the endearing, yet slightly condescending young woman that she is. Annie Silva's portrayal of the charismatic Mrs. Bennet relied on motherly instinct and energetic physical comedy, which played out spectacularly in the long run. Playing off of her humor, Mr. Bennet, played by Zaid Al-Nouman, bounced back and forth between comedic aggravation and commentary of his family's hi-jinks.

Along with the elaborate, rotating set, special effects were used to make moving projections in the windows of each scene, adding more dimension to the background. The string quartet in the ballroom scene also made the story feel more alive, while not overpowering on the actor's voices, who projected their voices well. The hand-made, period-appropriate costumes and expertly-styled wigs showed the dedication the stage crew had to the show. The publicity team packed the house with their clever methods of advertising in their school, as well as in their community.

Austen's subtle commentary of the titular 1800's England makes Pride and Prejudice notable, even today. Her characters set the boundaries for many archetypes, exploring the dilemmas of love, pride, and wealth. Both as a novel and play, it remains relevant for every tomorrow there'll ever be.

Abby Covington
McLean High School
Submitted for publication to Fairfax County Times

Elegant decorations, grandiose balls, pompous tea parties, all things one might expect to see in Georgian Era England where class and wealth dominated the atmosphere. In Chantilly High School's production of "Pride and Prejudice", the audience will experience all this prestige and more as they follow the charming tale of the Bennet family, including all of the ups and downs expected in the chaos surrounding young girls attempts to find the "love of their lives".

Written as a novel by Jane Austen in 1813, "Pride and Prejudice" is a famous story often attributed to its wide usage in High School English classes across the country. It is renowned because of Jane Austen's status as a writer in the 19th century, praised for her blend of romanticism and realism throughout her works. Additionally, "Pride and Prejudice" was adapted to a movie starring Keira Knightley and Matthew Macfadyen, directed by Joe Wright. However popular movie renditions seem to be, the story was adapted to the theatre in 1936, by Helen Jerome, years before the first movie adaption in 1940. As a result of the multitudes of mediums this show is depicted through, it has become a distinguished and acclaimed leader in the Romantic Comedy genre.

The leading lady, Elizabeth Bennet, known for her witty, sarcastic disposition was wonderfully portrayed by Aris Stovall. Stovall especially shined in scenes between her and the rest of her family, portraying the distinct character of Elizabeth incredibly well within large and small settings. Shown in her reactions to her persistent, wacky mother, but also in her more loving interactions with Jane and Lydia, finding comfort in each others similar hardships. Playing opposite Stovall was Alex Yee, portraying the stoic yet lovable Mr. Darcy. Yee was polished and superb throughout the show, exhibiting mastery in the his ability to accurately portray Darcy's dramatic character development. From apathetic and callous to to compassionate and romantic, Yee's depiction never wavered in truthfulness and acting prowess.

"Pride and Prejudice" is a show almost entirely made up of a strong cast of supporting and featured characters, Chantilly's cast did an excellent job of accomplishing this necessary drive in the plot. One of the most prominent supporting characters was Mrs. Bennet, played by Annie Silva. As one of the most hilarious characters in the show, Silva entertained the audience with every word and movement. Showing incredible comedic dexterity and physicality, Silva's performance was truly one of the highlights of this production. In contrast to her high energy, eccentric behavior was Mr. Bennet, representing the literal antithesis of his wife. Played by Zaid Al-Nouman, his annoyed and grouchy demeanor counterbalanced that of Silva's flawlessly, creating a bizarre and unconventional dynamic duo impossible not to watch.

An aspect of the show that sincerely aided in the transportation to "Georgian Era" England, something crucial when producing a time period piece, were the costume and makeup/hair departments. The costumes stole the show with their lavish detail and impeccable construction of professional degree. Not only were the costume pieces perfectly executed, but there were also a multitude of these impressive costumes per character, a feat not easily achievable at the high school level. Another aspect of these technical departments easily matched with that of a professional production were the polished and prim wigs well fitting to the time period. They were extremely accurate as well as realistic, another difficult achievement for high school theatre and was a truly impressive aspect of the show.

Chantilly's production of "Pride and Prejudice" flawlessly captured the spirit of the Jane Austen classic, a tale abundant in laughs



and love, the perfect combination.