Pride & Prejudice casts a spell

MADURAI: Pride and Prejudice, a romantic novel by

Jane Austen

, is a fascinating read. But to replicate the effect on stage has always been challenging. Girls of the department of English, Lady

Doak College

, left a lasting impression on the audience as they presented the

play

on Thursday.

Enacted by girls from the ‘Daughters of The Stage’, the play kickstarted the two-day annual event which will continue on Friday with two shows a day. The yearly event is held as an exercise for the students in learning the nuances of the novel.

According to

Rachel Barnabas

, head of the department of English, the students analyse the time and place which contribute to the setting of the novel and present it accordingly on stage.

This helps them to understand the element in the drama better than in classroom teaching.

“The show is one-and-half-hours long but it keeps the audience glued to their seats. The play has been well-staged with beautiful lighting and backstage works", said T Krishi, UG final year student from the American college.

Play director and associate professor of the English department, Beatrice Anne D’Couto, said “The name "Daughters Of The Stage" (DOTS) came to me in a flash one fine day about five years ago. Since Lady Doak College and drama are synonymous, we needed a name that would make every student to take part in it, feel proud, joyful and committed to being responsible.”

A team of 35 students acted in the play which lasted 1.30 hours. With the auditorium thrown open for the public too, it turned out to be a jam-packed one. The organisers expect more to join on Friday with the show timings at 10 am and 2 pm.