Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice is Homefront Players’ season opener for 2026, down at the Beaty Theater at Fort Lee. It’s a fast-paced and comical retelling of the classic Jane Austen novel, closely matching the story beats, and even lines from the 1995 drama on BBC. This isn’t surprising considering they were both written by Andrew Davies whose work is often considered the definitive Pride and Prejudice (P&P) viewing experience.
In 1796, Jane Austen wrote the first draft of Pride and Prejudice, originally titled First Impressions, and it was published anonymously in 1813. Despite being an over 200 year-old novel, it still holds up today, because it’s a story about people, and the drama, gossip, intrigue, and romance of those people will always be relevant and relatable.
Director Debra Clinton brings this to life expertly and is complimented by Frank Foster’s set design, and Tristan Ketcham’s lighting design which creates a visually appealing scene for our story. It’s evident from the effort of this cast and crew that it was a labor of love, and it wouldn’t be possible without stage manager RaJahné Fisher, sound designer Dew Redling, and the rest of the production team.
Clinton describes the experience as “extremely collaborative, really enjoyable and artistically fulfilling” which is exactly what you want from community theatre.
For those new to P&P, the story follows the witty Elizabeth Bennet (played by Catherine McMullan), the second of five daughters as she navigates life in 19th century England. Her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Bennett (played by Michael McClain and Taylor Baltimore) support (and suffer) the antics of their daughters, while Mrs. Bennett desperately wants to marry them off to an appropriate suitor so that their house stays in the family. Elizabeth’s sisters are Jane, Mary, Lydia, and Kitty Bennet, played by Jordan Vonderharr Barger, Sierra Brown, Mahala Redden, and Nadia Brown respectively – each with their own personalities and motivations. Jane seems the most promising candidate for marriage and catches the eye of the charming Mr. Bingley, played by Adam Rowland. His sister, however, Caroline Bingley (played by Caitlin Sneed), seems intent on making sure that doesn’t happen, and is further exasperated by Mr. Darcy’s interest in Elizabeth.
Mr. Darcy, companion to Mr. Bingley, is expertly portrayed by Matt Bolte, who steals scenes with his serious – yet amusing – stoicism and pride.
The play features an all-star cast with an excellent production team that truly makes you feel like you’re in the Regency period, experiencing the ups and downs of the English gentry.
Prior to seeing the show, I watched the BBC series for the first time, so the memory of this classic was fresh in my mind. I can confidently say that I often felt like I was watching the TV show as I got lost in the portrayals of the cast, only to be pulled out of it by someone opening a candy wrapper in the seats behind me.
The Bennett family is a joy to watch, especially Taylor Baltimore’s Mrs. Bennett whose hysterics brought the house down many times. Catherine McMullan’s portrayal of Elizabeth felt natural and believable, down to the cadence, accent, and facial expressions, and this was mirrored by Jordan Vonderharr Barger’s Jane Bennett, who was sweet and empathetic, if not a bit dramatic herself (which is understandable when you have Mrs. Bennett for a mother).
Mr. Collins, cousin to the Bennett sisters, played by Matt Barger, served as a comic relief throughout the production, who delivered with top-notch physical comedy and line delivery.
Mara Barrett played Charlotte Lucas, a good friend to Elizabeth, and serves as the voice of reason in contrast to the emotional drama seen everywhere else.
The tension between Elizabeth and her slew of suitors is enough to keep anyone on the edge of their seats, especially Mr. Darcy.
As for how it all goes down, you will have to go see for yourself! Pride and Prejudice runs through September 27 at the Beaty Theater, Bldg. 4300, Sustainment Avenue, Fort Lee, VA.
Note: due to its being on a military base, patrons are required to pre-vet before attending the show. Please make sure to do this at least 2-3 days in advance so that there is time for it to be processed! For more information, visit HomefrontPlayers.com and follow along on Facebook and Instagram.
Homefront Player’s upcoming productions are White Christmas, Boeing, Boeing, Moana Jr., and Anastasia The Musical, so stay tuned for audition announcements and show dates.
Cast
| Elizabeth Bennett | Catherine M. McMullan |
| Mr. Darcy | Matt Bolte |
| Jane Bennet | Jordan Vonderharr Barger |
| Mary Bennet | Sierra Brown |
| Lydia Bennet | Mahala Redden |
| Kitty Bennet | Nadia Brown |
| Mr. Bennet | Michael McClain |
| Mrs. Bennet | Taylor Baltimore |
| Mr. Bingley | Adam Rowland |
| Caroline Bingley | Caitlin Sneed |
| Charlotte Lucas | Mara Barrett |
| Mr. Collins | Matt Barger |
| Mrs. Hurst/Mrs. Gardiner | Bridget Neace |
| Sir William Lucas/Mr. Gardiner | Mike White |
| Lady Catherine De Bourgh/Mrs. Reynolds | Rebecca Anne Perkinson |
| George Wickham | Bryson Olivo |
| Lady Anne/Georgiana | Alondra Rivera Torres |
| Denny | Teddy Robbins |
| Hannah | Kathy Dowling |
Production Team
| Producer | Lee Farmer |
| Director | Debra Clinton |
| Stage Manager | RaJahné Fisher |
| Additional Choreography | Bryson Olivo |
| Scenic Design | Frank Foster |
| Lighting Design | Tristan Ketcham |
| Costumer | Alia Radabaugh |
| Sound Design | Dew Redling |
| Properties Manager | Melanie Boggs |
| Assistant Stage Manager | Charlotte Neace |
| Backstage Manager | Leah White |
| Light Board Operator | RaJahné Fisher |
| Sound Board Operator | Dew Redling |
| Photography | Dave Parrish Photography |
| Videography | Daryll Morgan Studios |
| Set Construction | Osborne Haydon, Ricky Harget, Lee Holland, Gregg Johnson, Lee Farmer, Frank Foster |
The show runs around 2 hours and has a 15 minute intermission. They’ve got some tasty smoothies and deliciously salty popcorn so grab a friend or loved one, and experience one of literature’s greatest achievements with Pride and Prejudice.
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