Holiday Comedy at ACT Opens Dec. 2

This December, Amelia Community Theatre returns full of good cheer to Pemberley, the Darcy estate created by Jane Austen in “Pride and Prejudice,” with the holiday production of  “The Wickhams: Christmas at Pemberley.”

This energetic romantic comedy by Lauren Gunderson and Margot Melcon, set in 1815, is an exuberant companion play to last season’s holiday show about the Bennet sisters reuniting at Pemberley.

This Christmas, the story takes us downstairs to the servants’ hall and introduces the staff who must make sure the festivities go off without a hitch. Besides their regular duties of serving the upstairs guests, it is up to them to deal with the unwelcome visitor who shows up, namely George Wickham, a rogue who has been banned from Pemberley by Mr. Darcy, even though Wickham is married to Darcy’s sister-in-law.

No matter the century, holiday gatherings evoke memories of family and food, and often provoke much drama. Such is the case for those at Pemberley, both upstairs and downstairs, who share their hopes and dreams and their love of orange biscuits, and who must look to their hearts for forgiveness for one another.

Director Lisa Howard-Welch who also directed last season’s Pemberley show, says, “These delightful stories are such a delectable treat. There is something festive and wonderful about a show that includes any of Jane Austen’s characters. It is exciting to bring Christmas 1815 in Derbyshire, England back to the ACT stage.”

The cast features Mokena Lipinski, Steven Marshek, Sebastian Miller, Clarisse Phillips, Trey Stafford, Jessica Tita, and Sue Weiner. Ensemble players include Juliet Howard-Welch, Elliot Miller, Sharon Parker, Marybeth Tita, and Lila Zacarro.

Performances are at 7:30 p.m. on December 2-3, 8-10, 15-17 and at 2 p.m. on December 4 and 11 at 207 Cedar Street. On opening night December 2, there will be complimentary Victorian desserts for ticket holders from 6:30-7:30 p.m.

The show is rated PG. Tickets are $25 for adults and $10 for students through college, available by calling the box office at (904) 261-6749 and online at www.AmeliaCommunityTheatre.org. The box office is open from 11 a.m. – 1 p.m. Wednesdays through Fridays and is open 90 minutes before curtain on show dates.