By STEPHANIE BLAIR
 Staff Writer

Thursday, Feb. 26, Western’s theatre department will be opening “Pride and Prejudice” on the main stage, directed by David Janoviak, professor and head of acting.

Based on the novel by Jane Austen, the classical romantic comedy follows the story of Elizabeth Bennet (played by third-year student and BFA actor, Janelle Davis), a stubborn and straightforward girl from a family of five girls whose mother, Mrs. Bennet (played by third-year student and BFA actor, Belladina Starr), is desperate to see all married.

Two wealthy gentlemen move to town, one of which is the brooding and reserved Mr. Darcy (played by third-year student and BFA actor, Jeff Presler), whose interactions with Elizabeth prove that first impressions are not always what they seem.
“There’s a lot of comedy in the show,” Davis said. “But, you have to be smart to get it.”

The classical feel may be daunting, similar to Shakespearian dialogue in that it can be hard to grasp at first, but the cast promises great fun.

“If you’re looking for fart jokes, you’ve come to the wrong play,” Starr said.

A two-act play, “Pride and Prejudice” has a cast of over 30 actors, spanning all grades of Western’s student body. It is a family show, though it may be a bit much for children.

“Working with the amount of people I do is incredible,” Davis said. “This is a huge cast and I interact with every single person.”

Performances are Feb. 26-28, March 4-7 at 7:30 p.m., with a matinee showing Sunday, March 1 at 2 p.m.

Theatre department productions are free to students. Admission for non-Western students is $7, general admission is $12, and seniors $10. Tickets can be purchased at the Rice Auditorium box office, 503.838.8462.