Pride and Prejudice
Book, Music and Lyrics by Bernard J. Taylor
Principals : 5m, 10f adult Support :3m, 5f (plus chorus)
The story told in Pride And Prejudice of the Bennett family, centred as it is on the relationship between the proud aristocrat Fitzwilliam Darcy and the high-spirited Elizabeth Bennett, is one of the most enduringly popular novels of all time and has had a far-reaching influence on all romantic fiction right up to the present day. This musical disappoints neither Austen fans nor theatre audiences.

Synopsis

The story told in Pride And Prejudice of the Bennett family, centred as it is on the relationship between the proud aristocrat Fitzwilliam Darcy and the high-spirited Elizabeth Bennett, is one of the most enduringly popular novels of all time and has had a far-reaching influence on all romantic fiction right up to the present day.

Jane Austen described Elizabeth Bennett as "quite the most delightful creature as ever appeared in print". Tens of millions agree, and it is the closest the author came to true romantic comedy. The determination of the bright and sparkling Elizabeth to dislike Mr Darcy is matched only by his arrogant pride.

The musical has ten fantastic principal roles for women (most with solos), from the dim Mrs Bennett, to feisty Elizabeth and her four sisters, to the formidable Lady Catherine de Bourgh and the bitchy Caroline Bingley. For the men, the five principal roles include the complex and challenging part of Mr Darcy, and a classic part for a comic actor in Mr Collins.

Bernard J Taylor's musical follows the plot and characterisation closely enough to suit those who can quote every line of Jane Austen's book, while telling the story plainly enough to entertain the few who don't know it. A show with 32 pieces of music and prominent roles for old and young, that also has plenty of chorus work. It has been staged numerous times with great success for the companies concerned.

Cast Requirements

Principals (5m, 10f)
Mr Bennett - 40-50, amiable, gentle and eccentric man, but unhappily married

Mrs Bennett - 40-50, querulous, excitable and ill-bred, desperate to marry off her daughters

Elizabeth - 20, intelligent, bold and mildly attractive

Jane - 22, the eldest daughter, considered to be the most beautiful, reserved manner, pleasant to all

Kitty - older than Lydia but defers to her, fourth daughter

Lydia - 15, flirtatious, naive, headstrong and reckless, the youngest daughter

Mary - pretentious third Bennet daughter, who prefers reading over socializing

Fitzwilliam Darcy - 28, intelligent, wealthy, extremely handsome and reserved

Mr Collins - 25, pompous, narrow-minded sycophant

Bingley - outgoing, extremely good-natured, and wealthy

Caroline Bingley - Bingley’s shallow and haughty sister, befriends Jane then snubs her

Wickham - dashing, charming and handsome young soldier

Lady Catherine de Bourgh - Mr. Darcy's aunt and Mr. Collins' patron, inconsistent and arrogant

Charlotte Lucas - 27, sensible, intelligent, but marries for money and security (non-singing)

Housekeeper (f)

Supporting Roles (3m, 5f plus chorus)
Servants 1, 2 & 3 - female

Isabella - Lydia's friend (non-singing)

Colonel Foster (non-singing, non-speaking)

Charles Bennett - Mr Bennett's brother (non-singing)

Anne de Bourgh - Lady Catherine’s sickly, bland daughter (non-singing, non-speaking)

Footman (non-singing)

Soldiers

Chorus

Songs
ACT ONE
0) Overture -Orchestra
1) Prologue - Chorus
2) See Him Today - Mrs Bennett, Kitty, Mary, Lydia & Mr Bennett
3) Five Daughters - Mrs Bennett
4) At The Ball Tonight - Jane, Lydia, Elizabeth, Mary, Servants 1, 2 & 3, Chorus
5) Assembly Waltz - Chorus
6) Being Here With You - Jane & Bingley
7) A Man Who’s Proud And Vain - Elizabeth
8) The Guns Of War - Soldiers, Lydia & Elizabeth
9) No Designs On Love - Jane
10) I Long To Know You - Wickham
11) Isn't It Strange - Darcy
12) They're All So Common - Caroline Bingley
13) Through The Eyes Of A Child - Darcy
14) A Woman Who Knows Her Place - Collins
15) An Offer I Must Refuse - Collins & Elizabeth
16) I Will Remember Him That Way - Jane

ACT TWO
17) What An Hour In Church Will Do - Chorus
18) How I Miss Her - Mr Bennett
19) Good Breeding - Lady de Bourgh
20) I Long To Know You (Reprise) - Wickham
21) Don't Ask Me Why - Darcy
22) Should I Be Flattered? - Elizabeth & Darcy
23) Have I Been Wrong - Elizabeth
24) The Soldiers Farewell - Soldiers & Girls
25) Mr Darcy - Housekeeper & Chorus
26) Thank God They're Married - Lydia, Wickham, Mrs Bennett & Mary
27) Since We Said Goodbye - Bingley & Jane
28) My Dear Miss Bennett - Lady de Bourgh & Elizabeth
29) I Need To Know - Darcy & Elizabeth
30) Pride And Prejudice - Darcy & Elizabeth
31) Finale - Mr and Mrs Bennett, Darcy, Elizabeth, Bingley, Jane & Chorus

Production Materials

Perusal Materials on Request
Request any or all of the materials below to help get a feel for the show and if it’s right for you and your group;
Libretto
Piano-vocal Score
Sampler tracks
To request perusal materials contact us.

Rehearsal Materials
The following items are available for purchase when a performance license has been granted;
Digital Master Rehearsal Set (libretto and piano vocal score as PDF for unlimited printing and use by your group, you also get to keep the materials for future productions)
Backing Tracks (for private rehearsal or in performance in lieu of a live band and retained for future productions)
Orchestrations (Available as a digital purchase to print for 9 or 11 piece band)
Reed 1 - Flute, Clarinet
Reed 2 - Clarinet, Flute
Reed 3 (optional) - Clarinet, Bass Clarinet
Horn
Trumpet
Trombone (optional)
Keyboard 1
Percussion
Violin I
Violin II
Viola
Cello
Bass

Production Information
This show is available under a variable royalties license by amateur companies at a rate of 20% of box office gross or £100 per performance whichever is the greater. For first and second class productions please contact us.