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BYU'S PRIDE and PREJUDICE goes #BYUPandP

By Anne Flinders, dramaturg The cast of BYU’s Pride and Prejudice has been in rehearsals for over a month, working together four nights a week and Saturdays. With that much time together, friendships are developing on social media as well as on the rehearsal floor. Here is a sampling of Facebook posts from the cast, staff and fans. [Names in bold are the names of the people who made the posts.]   Laurie Koralewski Payne: Tra-la!! Marvin Payne will be playing Mr. Bennett in the fabulous Melissa Leilani Larson’s adaptation of Pride and Prejudice directed by the also fabulous Barta Lee Heiner at BYU this season! What could possibly be more awesome than that?   Misty Flinders: I started rehearsals today! I'm playing Lady Catherine de Bourgh's dog Pippa in BYU's PRIDE AND PREJUDICE. Melissa Leilani Larson: It's Pippa Wentworth. For the record. Misty: Pippa Wentworth Fitzwilliam de Bourgh. ;) [caption id="attachment_2319" align="aligncenter" width="225"]

Misty Flinders (Pippa Wentworth Fitzwilliam de Bourgh) and Hillary Andrus Straga (Lady Catherine de Bourgh)

Misty Flinders (Pippa Wentworth Fitzwilliam de Bourgh) and Hillary Andrus Straga (Lady Catherine de Bourgh)[/caption] Hillary Andrus Straga: I amused myself on the drive home by reciting my Lady Catherine lines in my best Jennifer Tilly impersonation. I was "charmed, charmed, charmed."   Melissa Leilani Larson: Meet the Bennets. [caption id="attachment_2320" align="aligncenter" width="640"]

Back row: Aubrey Reynolds (Jane Bennet), Laura Wardle (Mrs. Bennet), Marvin Payne (Mr. Bennet), Karli Hall (Elizabeth Bennet). Front row: Pearl Corry (Mary Bennet), Lindsay Clark (Lydia Bennet), Cosette Hatch (Kitty Bennet)

Back row: Aubrey Reynolds (Jane Bennet), Laura Wardle (Mrs. Bennet), Marvin Payne (Mr. Bennet), Karli Hall (Elizabeth Bennet). Front row: Pearl Corry (Mary Bennet), Lindsay Clark (Lydia Bennet), Cosette Hatch (Kitty Bennet)[/caption] Lindsay Clark: "Humidity is a refreshing trait in a gentleman." #misreadlines   Melissa Leilani Larson: Laughter in this rehearsal room always seems to melt into coughing. New title: BYU presents PRIDE AND THE PLAGUE.   Many cast members shared a version of this post:  In the rehearsal room: a chalkboard character map of Pride and Prejudice:

PnP Chalk art 2

  A picture of the playwright’s “Command Center” as Melissa Leilani Larson revises during rehearsal...

PnP Mel revising

    Melissa Leilani Larson: If Lydia Bennet were here today, I would admire two things about her: 1) her tenacity and 2) her Pinterest page. Lindsay Clark: She'd have a board devoted entirely to bonnets.   Becky Maskell:  When you show up to rehearsal in coordinating colors it only means one thing...family portrait! [caption id="attachment_2325" align="aligncenter" width="403"]

Becky Maskell (Anne de Bourgh), Ted Bushman (Mr. Darcy) and Hillary Straga (Lady Catherine de Bourgh).

Becky Maskell (Anne de Bourgh), Ted Bushman (Mr. Darcy) and Hillary Straga (Lady Catherine de Bourgh).[/caption]   Melissa Leilani Larson: The regiment is leaving for Brighton. Sad day. [caption id="attachment_2324" align="aligncenter" width="526"]

Lindsay Clark (Lydia Bennet) and Cosette Hatch (Kitty Bennet)

Lindsay Clark (Lydia Bennet) and Cosette Hatch (Kitty Bennet)[/caption]   Ted Bushman: Purple was the order of the day for the cast of Pride and Prejudice. That's my aunt, and that girl I dig, and her sister. [caption id="attachment_2326" align="aligncenter" width="526"]

 Hillary Andrus Straga (Lady Catherine de Bourgh), Aubrey Reynolds (Jane Bennet), Karli Hall (Elizabeth Bennet) and Ted Bushman (Mr. Darcy).

Hillary Andrus Straga (Lady Catherine de Bourgh), Aubrey Reynolds (Jane Bennet), Karli Hall (Elizabeth Bennet) and Ted Bushman (Mr. Darcy).[/caption]   Becky Maskell: I'm scheduled for another costume fitting next week! Real silk...custom made dress...just for me! This is so exciting guys!!!!!!!!!!   Hillary Andrus Straga: Hey, Ted! Where's that purple picture? Ted Bushman: Look up.   Hillary Andrus Straga: Lizzy and Jane [far left] cuttin' a rug. [caption id="attachment_2327" align="aligncenter" width="403"]

Karli Hall (Elizabeth Bennet) and Aubrey Reynolds (Jane Bennet)

Karli Hall (Elizabeth Bennet) and Aubrey Reynolds (Jane Bennet)[/caption]   And Pearl Corry made a Lapse-It video: https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=1397855047142036   Lindsay Clark: Getting ready to run through Act 2 of Pride and Prejudice tonight. Have we really almost blocked the whole show? #timetostartmemorizing   Cast members are posting on media sites like Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. You can follow them at #BYUPandP.

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By Amelia Johnson, assistant dramaturg World War I had drastic consequences. Many had lost family members and friends in battle. Those who fought in the battle and survived were affected emotionally if not physically. As a result of of fighting in the war 250,000 soldiers suffered a full or partial amputation. The generation who had just missed the age of being drafted felt extremely lucky. Seeing so many die from the war and Spanish influenza in such a small time period made everyone very aware that life is short. This impacted the younger generation. They felt the need to live life to the fullest for themselves and for those who no longer had the chance to. [caption id="attachment_5293" align="alignnone" width="300"] An extravagant party thrown with the spirit of the Bright Young Things.[/caption] With this sentiment, the Bright Young Things or the Bright Young People became an active group in society. Wealthy young aristocrats and socialites, the Bright Young Things rebelled against the values that they and their parents had been brought up with so that they could enjoy living. Their parent’s values had done nothing to protect them from the terror that the war had brought, so what was the purpose in playing by the rules? Life was mean to be enjoyed. [caption id="attachment_5291" align="alignnone" width="243"] A waiter experiences shock as a young woman publicly smokes a cigarette.[/caption] The Bright Young Things threw elaborate parties and participated in car races and treasure hunts. They also drank, smoke, and used drugs. Concerned only with what was fun, they gave no thought to what was proper. Their behavior caught the attention of journalists who were very interested in reporting their wild antics to the public. It is with the Bright Young Things that paparazzi originated, as reporters would follow individuals from this group of young people to get a good stories. Because of how much these individuals appeared in the press, many of the names of the Bright Young Things are still known to this day. [caption id="attachment_5289" align="alignnone" width="217"] Nancy Mitford. One of the known Bright Young Things who later became a novelist.[/caption] As you watch Chariots of Fire, pay attention to behaviors that may be associated with the Bright Young Things. In comparison, Harold and Eric were a little different then the young people at this time. Both found their fun in running and focused their efforts on this. Eric also found joy through the religious work he did. These men seized the day in their own way.
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