Petition to get more musicals inspired by Jane Austen’s work!

Last weekend I invited a friend over to casa of Moi for some nice shenanigans including making chakchouka, singing very old French songs, watching The O.C. and, of course Pride & Prejudice: A New Musical.

I had seen it already, discovering it quite by accident on YouTube when I randomly typed « Jane Austen musicals » on Google (I told you, I’m always looking for new JA content!) and I loooved it!

I am not necessarily into musicals but I really enjoyed this one! Also I prefer musicals rather than musical films with some exceptions such as Cinderella (I mean it’s Whitney and Brandy!). Sometimes I get really annoyed when there’s more singing than actual dialogue in movies, and when characters burst into songs super randomly. Especially if the song doesn’t serve the plot whatsoever.

However with Pride and Prejudice: A New Musical, I always have a really good time watching it, the actors are top tier and I love the modernity of the songs too! My favourite ones are Last woman on Earth sung by Mary Mattison (Lizzie Bennet) and Bravado sung by Justin Mortelliti (Mr. Darcy).

I must say that I really liked that portrayal of Mr. Darcy, both proud as usual but also surprisingly funny! Mr Bennet too was a nice witty character, which my friend really liked. Also special mentions to that Mr. Collins played by Brian Herndon which I loved to dislike. It was also my friend’s least favourite character, and we know that if Mr. Collins gives you the ick, then the acting is perfect.

Now I want more musicals inspired by Jane Austen’s work! I’m a little surprised that there aren’t any in the UK or in Broadway, which is a shame because it is another way to discover her novels and get into the JAU, for those who are more into musicals than movies, TV series or even books. For instance, that’s why I chose this as my friend’s first entryway to Jane Austen’s work. She had never seen any adaptation nor read any of her books (except that time I made her read the first chapter of P&P haha but she had forgotten it all).

So I think we should all sign a petition to get people to make more musicals inspired by Jane Austen’s work! I mean, imagine Sir Walter Elliot from Persuasion singing a love song to himself in the mirror à la Mulan? That’s a sight that we must see, I feel like we are being robbed of something here, don’t you think too?