It was an imaginative idea of The Mill at Sonning to stage an adaptation of Death Comes To Pemberley, P D James’ sequel to Pride and Prejudice, in this, the 250th anniversary of the birth of Jane Austen.
Written in 2011, James’ novel deals with the murder of James Denny, a minor character in Pride and Prejudice, who is found dead in woodland on Fitzwilliam Darcy’s Pemberley estate, and George Wickham being charged with his murder. The novel was dramatized by the BBC in 2013, but this is the first time it has been staged, probably owing to its structure being difficult to adapt, in this case by Duncan Abel and Rachel Wagstaff, whose retelling of Birdsong has recently been seen at Theatre Royal, Brighton.
The reason any reimagining is problematic is because the original is divided into an author’s note, prologue, six ‘books’ and epilogue, Elizabeth Bennett hardly appearing at all in the central sections. The story is told from D’Arcy’s point of view, and therefore it contains his inward reflections: the stage adaptation does not attempt to do this!
The plot is pretty convoluted and this particular version tries to get in all the twists and turns of the plot using eleven actors to play a multitude of characters, many of them minor and just getting in the way of the main story lines! The audience needs to keep its wits about it to track all the characters and absorb all the information, especially as some of the actors do not succeed in enunciating all their lines carefully enough, mainly because they are trying to speak quickly.
Most successful is Sean Rigby as Captain Fitzwilliam, managing to get the Jane Austen style needed for the piece, and always being interesting to watch. Sarah Berger is also very convincing and most amusing as Lady Catherine de Bourgh. Both know how to extract the most from the, at times, rather pedestrian script and instinctively understand how to lift the lines from the page.
Others who impress include David Osmond as Henry Alveston, a young barrister and reformer, in love with Georgina D’Arcy, nicely played by Celia Cruwys-Finnigan, and Louise Faulkner who manages to make the role of Mrs Younge very convincing; she is a shadowy and pivotal figure in the story: in the original novel but not in the play she is accidentally knocked down and killed by a carriage whilst rushing from the courtroom after Wickham’s trial.
The central characters of Mr Darcy and Elizabeth are played by James Bye and Jamie-Rose Duke.
An ever-moving set of hanging screens to suggest different locales has been designed by the ever-imaginative Sean Cavanagh and Natalie Titchener has produced some superb stylish costumes.
I enjoyed Death Comes To Pemberley! I did not worry about the intricacies of the plot but just let the whole thing wash over me! There is a lot of fun in marrying a murder mystery, especially one crafted and plotted by someone as devious as P D James, that is mixed with Jane Austen’s humour and social satire!
Review by John Groves
The world premiere stage adaptation of P.D. James’ best-selling novel comes to Windsor this summer, a tale of love, betrayal, and intrigue in Regency England.
Step into the world of Pride and Prejudice like never before with a riveting new stage adaptation that combines Jane Austen’s timeless romance with a gripping murder mystery imagined by master storyteller, the ‘Queen of Crime’ P.D. James.
Six years after Elizabeth Bennet and Mr. Darcy’s happy union, their idyllic life at Pemberley is shattered when Elizabeth’s sister Lydia bursts in with shocking news: a man has been murdered in the woods, and suspicion falls on her husband, the notorious George Wickham. As the investigation unfolds, dark secrets emerge, tensions rise, and loyalties are tested, casting doubt on everyone’s innocence.
From the acclaimed writing team behind the hit stage adaptations The Girl on the Train and The Da Vinci Code, this spellbinding production delivers all the romance, intrigue, and drama you love, now wrapped in a suspenseful whodunnit. A must-see theatrical event that will leave you breathless!
Cast:
James Bye – Mr Fitzwilliam D’arcy
Jamie-Rose Duke – Elizabeth D’Arcy
Sean Rugby – Colonel Fitzwilliam
Todd Boyce – Sir Selwyn Hardcastle
Sam Woodhams – George Wickham/Will Bidwell
Joe Bence – Henry Alveston
Celia Cruwys-Finnigan – Georgiana D’arcy
Sarah Berger – Lady Catherine De Bourgh/Mrs Bidwell
Paul Jericho – Mr Bidwell/Jim Pratt/Dr MFee/Judge
Mogali Masuku – Lydia Wickham/Louisa Bidwell
Louise Faulkner – Mrs Younge/Joan/Mrs Piggott
Creatives:
Writer – P.D James
Adaptors – Duncan Able and Rachel Wagstaff
Director – Jonathon O’Boyle
Set Designer – Sean Cavanagh
Costume and Hair Designer – Natalie Titchener
Lighting Designer – Mike Robertson
Sound Designer – Elizabeth Purnell
Associate Sound Designers – Graham Weymouth and Henry Horn
Musical Director/Arranger – David Osmond
Casting Director – Kate Plantin CDG
Dance Advisor – Dr Helen Davidge
Producers – Adam Rolston and Rishi Anand
Production Manager – Nick May
Company Manager – Dominic Whiffin
Deputy Stage Manager – Linnea Friden Gronning
Lighting Technician – Ashley Cashfield
Head of Wardrobe – Laura Brown
Wardrobe Supervisor – Ella Cooley
DEATH COMES TO PEMBERLEY
Theatre Royal Brighton, 2 to 6 September 2025
Then tour continues to 13 September 2025
https://deathcomestopemberleytour.co.uk/
