WESTPORT–Jane Austen fans, take note: The Oct. 25 performance of the new, comedic sequel to Pride and Prejudice at the Westport Country Playhouse will be followed by a free symposium on the popular author.
Called “Jane Austen: Ageless at 250,” the discussion will follow the 3 p.m. performance of Ken Ludwig’s Pride and Prejudice, Part 2: Napoleon at Pemberley, a theatrical sequel to Austen’s most famous novel.
The two panelists and the moderator come with Austen credentials. The panelists are: Christine Catallo, director of library services and operations at Pequot Library in Southport and an Austen scholar; and Pamela Buck, associate professor of English at Sacred Heart University specializing in 18th- and 19th-century British literature, with a focus on Austen.
Kelle Ruden, whose career in the book business has included experience with bookstores, publishing and libraries, will moderate the conversation. A member of the Jane Austen Society North America for more than a decade, Ruden attended Christ Church, University of Oxford this past summer to study Austen’s writing.
The symposium is expected to begin about 5 p.m. Audience members may attend by simply remaining in their seats after the curtain falls, said Pat Blaufuss, public relations manager for the Playhouse. Guests coming for the symposium who did not see the show will be greeted in the lobby by the house manager and ushers, who will keep them informed on when they can enter the house, Blaufuss said.
The event is part of the Playhouse’s Sunday Symposium series, “one of the Playhouse’s educational and community engagement programs that invites audiences to explore the ideas and issues raised on stage,” Blaufuss said.
The World Premiere of Ken Ludwig’s Pride and Prejudice, Part 2: Napoleon at Pemberley runs from Oct. 20 through Nov. 7 at the theater.
“Celebrating Jane Austen’s 250th anniversary year, the new play blends her elegant world with a dash of historical adventure, creating a lively ensemble comedy about marriage, ambition, and the thrill of changing one’s destiny,” the theater said in a release.
Single tickets start at $50 with discounts for students, senior citizens, educators, military, first responders, Indigenous peoples, professional playwrights and groups, as well as options for pay-what-you-will and library passes. Details here.
Running time is approximately two hours, including intermission. The show is appropriate for ages 12 and up, the theater says.
Westport Country Playhouse
25 Powers Court, Westport, Connecticut 06880
www.westportplayhouse.org
The Westport Country Playhouse is a non-profit that produces theater from playwrights, actors, directors, and designers of all backgrounds, while entertaining audiences and exploring human and societal issues along the way. Image Robert Benson.
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