The Wickhams: Christmas at Pemberley at Lyric Arts in Anoka is Another Joyful Continuation of Austen’s Pride and Prejudice

Last year Lyric Arts performed the first in the Christmas at Pemberley cycle titled Miss Bennet: Christmas at Pemberley while the Jungle Theater premiered the third in the trilogy Georgiana & Kitty: Christmas at Pemberley. Now, thanks again to Lyric Arts, I can cross the second play The Wickhams: Christmas at Pemberley off my must see list. Let me take a moment to state two things. Firstly, I fell in love with both of last years Christmas at Pemberley productions. Secondly, from this moment forth we will dispense with the “Christmas at Pemberley” tag. After all I’m not being paid by the word, in fact I’m not being paid at all. How does The Wickhams measure up to last years triumphes is the primary question going into this latest production. It’s everything the other plays are, fitting perfectly with them, while as is the case with all three plays, working all on its own. Another wonderful cast bringing to life Austen’s beloved characters upon a spectacular set. It’s the time of Christmas miracles, as I head into the busiest two weeks of my theater loving life, this was the gift I was truly hoping for. My biggest fear going into this play was that it wouldn’t recapture the magic of last years Pemberley’s. My biggest regret is that my words cannot convey how deeply I treasure the world of these plays and how grateful I am that this is another resounding success.

The Wickhams, as with the other plays in the trilogy, was written by Lauren Gunderson and Margot Melcon who have captured the essence of Austen’s work and carried her characters on in a fashion that befits the source material. With The Wickhams, they have added a dash of Downton Abbey or Upstairs Downstairs in a very satisfying way. This Pemberley edition focuses on the Lydia and George Wickham and is set in the servants common room below stairs. Which is most convenient because taking place at the same time above stairs are the events of the first play Miss Bennet. But while Lydia and Wickham are the main characters whose romantic fortunes we are following from Austen’s Pride and Prejudice, the play focuses as well on a trio of servants. The new characters are the housekeeper Mrs. Reynolds, Brian a footman with a mind for inventions, and Cassie a new maid. As the household prepares for Christmas, the drama kicks into high gear when a drunken and beaten Wickham barges into the common room and Mrs. Reynolds, who has known him since a boy, allows him to stay despite the fact that he is banned from Pemberley. The servants must try and get him to leave before anyone upstairs discovers he is present.

The problem with a cast like this is that they are all perfect in their roles and so how do you single anyone out. So I’m going to focus on the performers I’m not familiar with that really made a strong first impression. Kayla Hambek is wonderful as Mrs. Reynolds the housekeeper, who is no nonsense on the outside but has a true heart and wisdom to spare. Nadia Franzen who plays the maid Cassie and also is the Music Director for the show, which has a surprising amount of music including incidental music performed by and uncredited but very effective Violinist. Frazen’s Cassie is strong willed and self assured, and she plays these traits with intelligence and kindness, being a comforting and encouraging figure for Lydia, whom most of the other characters have trouble even tolerating. Felipe Escudero is perfectly vile and charming as the villian George Wickham. He’s a character no one can root for, but he plays him in such a way that we can understand those who try and see the good in him. Finally, Grace Klapak perfectly navigates the role of Lydia, she has to elicit our sympathy but still be true to the character, which is tactless, vulgar, loud, and very very silly. Klapak knows to play those traits, though slightly mellowed by the passage of a few years of marriage, but when needed she brings the emotional weight required for certain scenes without those feelings seeming to come from nowhere.

Marci Lucht directs the play making a lot of decisions that really add to the production. The violinist who provides transition music wandering through the set is a good example of an element that seems simple but really adds to the mood and feel of the production. Even the choice that seems strange like the post intermission sing along, while odd, is still so enjoyable that we forgive its lack of dramatic sense. The costumes by Christy Branham and Jessica Moore are wonderfully realized, from Wickhams uniform, to the elegant gowns worn by the Bennet Sisters. The real stunner though is Greg Vanselow’s set design centered around a large fireplace and chimney with large support columns that rise high into the ceiling and over the set. Windows that allow sight lines to characters in other areas of the basement add depth to the set. All aspects working to add a sense of scale that’s quite astonishing to behold.

The Wickhams runs through December 22nd at Lyric Arts in Anoka. If you haven’t seen the other plays don’t worry, they can all be enjoyed individually and in any order. I do recommend having a working knowledge of Pride and Prejudice to get the most out of any of the plays. For more information and to purchase tickets go to https://www.lyricarts.org/the-wickhams.

This Holiday season why not start a new tradition of taking in a live theater production with family and friends? It’s a great way to create lasting memories and will give you something to look forward to every year as you experience the magic of live theater. Whether your budget is large or small, there is a show for you. Looking for gift ideas? Don’t we all have enough “stuff”? Give the gift of live theater, go to your favorite theaters website, see what shows they have coming up in the new year and give the gift of an experience over material.

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