What does Queen, David Bowie and Celine Dion have in common? Well, besides making great music, they also make great theme tunes for some peculiars characters: the Bennets. 

A few years ago, Pride & Prejudice (sort of) by Isobel McArthur dazzled the West End with its fun, unhinged and biting take on the literary masterpiece. Soon enough, the audacity and modernity won over audiences. So when it was announced that the show would travel all the way to Paris, I was very excited to finally attend this intriguing comedy show. 

Adapted for the French audience by Virginie Hocq and Jean-Marc Victor at the Théâtre Saint-George, I knew right away I was in for a good laugh. Of course, the Belgian comedian is known for her irreverent humour and incisive jokes, often playing on double meanings and innuendos. This time again, she does it all, but still with class, the show is in french after all! 

Through this rewriting, the plot remains the same: Mrs. Bennet is desperate to marry off her five daughters, while Elizabeth Bennet and the mysterious yet charming Mr. Darcy navigate between misunderstandings and prejudice. Well, the same plot but a point of view that turns the code on its head as the story is more of a recollection of what happened… by the maids!  

Gossip girl(s)

At times, the show can seem a bit messy. A lot of things are happening on and off stage, and characters are appearing as quickly as they are disappearing. But it serves its purpose: as they proudly told us at the beginning of the show, it is the chambermaids who are telling the story from their point of view. Accuracy can be rightfully thrown out the window as they gossip and gloss over details for our own enjoyment. An interesting mise en abyme that intertwines absurd situations, social satire and commentary and can paint the story within the story in a completely different light. For an hour, it is like listening to your best friend spill very hot tea! 

Granted, I had no idea what Pride & Prejudice was about (I know, shocking) as I never read the book or watched the movie. Yet, everything fell into place quite quickly, and though it might take a while to warm up to the tone and humour, many laughs erupted from the audience. Fortunately, they made some minor changes to the original script- more to accommodate the French audience than to reinvent the whole thing. For example, the show is shorter, with no interval, and some lines have been replaced, so some wordplay and British jokes don’t get lost along the way! 

We truly have to salute the work of those five ladies- or six, as we can’t forget the talented Melody Linhart, the live guitarist who punctuates the action with a few chord strums. Her voice was mesmerising when she sang a rendition of “London Calling”. 

Throughout the show, they all truly embody their character, slipping in and out of it without us even realizing sometimes, even though it is happening right in front of our eyes! 

I particularly loved Emmanuelle Bougerol. As the mother, she was delightful and frightening. As Darcy, her delivery was always on point, and the tone she used as the pathetic lover always made me belly-laugh as it allowed her to say the most insane thing in the most natural way. It was even hard to believe those two characters were played by the same person, as her acting couldn’t be more different. The contrast between the mad, lunatic and unhinged mother, who drinks her despair away and the cool and collected Mr Darcy was hilarious, to say the least. 

Agnès Pat’ was incredible as both Mr Bingley and his sister. Her physical comedy was a delight and I wish we had gotten to see more of her Bingley as her childlike portrayal of him was really endearing. Playing opposite Celine Esperin as Jane, their chemistry was really sweet and believable. And frustrating, so frustrating! 

Just like the relationship between Darcy and Elizabeth, portrayed by Magali Genoud. I enjoyed how her Elizabeth was fierce and not taking anyone’s crap. She knew what she wanted and stood for it no matter what. Genoud’s personality truly shone through this character as she was also bubbly and full of life. It was nice to see both sides of the character, especially when she dropped some social commentary about two girls being in love. So unapologetically herself, you simply have to love her!  

Finally, I liked the versatility of Lucie Brunet. She was the only I knew from the cast and it was amazing to see how free she felt on that stage. As Lydia, Mr Collins or Mary, Lucie is shining and truly gave her all. Her rendition of Venus had us clapping and dancing in our seats in a minute! 

A whole deal 

The set was nothing too crazy: A chair that come and go, a simple backdrop that allows the character to appear and disappear at ease, a ramp of light…It can quickly look too simple or dull, but it never does as the five actress always manage to fill it with high energy, colorful costumes and comical movements. Kudos to Johanna Boyé for bringing such an infectious joy to the stage without never missing a beat. 

The music, on the contrary, gave life to the show. While not being complete covers of the originals, it served its purpose: moving the show forward and enhancing the comical element. All By Myself by Celine Dion, We are the Champions by Queen, Fuck You by Lily Allen, Shape Of You by Ed Sheeran… An ode to British pop music that was very much enjoyed by the audience. 

The costumes, while not being over the top, intertwined modernity and the 18th century vibe, all while rocking latex gloves, chamber pots and dishcloths. From quick-changes to wig changes, hats off to the actresses for pulling it off. It was so well done that I often didn’t realise the five of them were standing on stage while in different costumes – I always felt like one of them would enter the stage! That’s how you know they are really good at fully embracing a character!  

It is no wonder that Orgueil et Préjugés… Ou presque was nominated for Best Musical at the 2025 Molières. It is witty, fun and unexpected, just what you need if you are looking for a good laugh in Paris! Make sure you don’t miss it, the show will be playing at the Théâtre Saint George until June 28th!