Being Mr Wickham is a livestream monologue of Mr Wickham's side of things. And not just my life of hell with Mr Darcy expose style. His vanity and monstrousness comes through; also his lack of spiritual reflection - he is very much focused on the here and now. And yet, he can't help but reflect back - he was bested by Byron; outworked and out-moralised by his children; eleventh houred by Mr Darcy in his despicable plan to elope with Georgiana Darcy, and her fortune and reputation.
And yet he is a man of his time - we hear how he rollickingly met Denny and how they louched around Regency high society; the highs and horrors of being Militia and actually experiencing battle, and how he really, really doesn't fit in the clean new Victorian high moralism. His reminiscences of boarding school and being forgiven by Mr Darcy's father for his wasteful, self-centred, gambling, drinking, whoring life by being made a Vicar are almost Dickensian.
Best of all the empty theatre becomes part of the Victorian scenery - fog, red mist and more! as Mr Wickham avoids his snoring wife and remembers his missed opportunity with Hariette Wilson, cos he was out-Byroned!
I came away (as Team Jane would probably want me to appalled and amused), but I am immune - I am still #TeamBingley. Mr Wickham is no Willoughby - we aren't meant to feel sorry for him. And yet, those shirt sleeves!!! I think it could go further in working it's Zoom fourth wall as the Old Vic have done and really played with it - this did feel more like the filmed play it is, but given the newness and the constraints, it's all done really well. Especially the genteel shabbiness of the small apartment Mr and Mrs Wickham are trapped in, yet still managing to enjoy life together.
Amusingly the Wickhams have produced hyper-respectable children; whereas the Darcy's have produced boys after Wickham's mould. This is the only part that that didn't ring true - straight-laced Wickhams perhaps, but to deny that Lizzie and Darcy's love match would not produced loved rather than indulged and strong willed, selfish children? Again, more Dickens than Jane!
Given that I didn't know what to expect - this is a lot of fun and very well done; especially being followed by a live Q&A.
Enjoy how the empty theatre becomes part of the set!
Watch and find out more here:
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