Mr Wickham is ready to set the record straight. Celebrating the 250th anniversary of Jane Austen’s birth, Adrian Lukis, who starred in the renowned BBC TV adaptation of Pride and Prejudice, returns to the role of Mr Wickham.
Join Pride and Prejudice’s most roguish gentleman, George Wickham, on the eve of his sixtieth birthday, to lift the sheets on what exactly happened thirty years on from where we left him… And discover his own version of some very famous literary events.
You remember "Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead", right? Take two minor characters from a famous play and weave a tale around their misadventures. This is in much the same vein. A one-man show where we get to spend time with Pride & Prejudice's most clubbable old rake in order to better understand why he was such a scoundrel.
There's a lovely bit of intertextuality in having Adrian Lukis both write and perform as Wickham. For people of my age, he is Wickam. Sure, he's no Darcy in a dripping wet shirt, but played the perfect bounder and cad.
The Jermyn Street Theatre is the perfect venue for these tall tales. An intimate room where we're slowly drawn in to the confidences of a master manipulator. Behind the twinkling smile there is, be in no doubt, a predator.
Wickham lives off his charms and it is no wonder that the audience is eating out of the palm of his hand within minutes. His outrageous name dropping is all part of the seduction.
Of course he has been viciously abused in literature; done dirty by those envious of his success. Yes, he is a bit of a rascal but - and his eyes flirt with us at this point - isn't that what makes a man interesting?
Adrian Lukis doesn't redeem the villain; he indulges him. It is a delight to spend an hour in his company, hearing the old sot reminisce about old conquests, and catching up with the Bennet gossip. But you'll walk away wondering if you're any closer to the truth or have just been beguiled like some many others.
There's an interesting bit of media rights discussion to be here as well. Famously, the actors who play James Bond aren't allowed to wear a tuxedo in other movies lest they be confused with 007. All of Jane Austen's works have long since passed out of copyright - but is the character of Wickam based on the book version of the 1990's screen version? There's no portrait of Julia Sawalha on the wall, so you'll have to make your own mind up on that count.
I do wonder how many other other actors will take the opportunity to revisit their star turns? The nostalgia roadshow rumbles on.
Mr Wickham is in residence until the 30th of August and I have no doubt that you will find his company most agreeable.
