Jane Austen's 'Pride And Prejudice' Is An All-Town Celebration

Press release from Hamden Public Library:

Oct. 17, 2022

Hamden High School’s Main Stage Ensemble and Hamden Public Library are pleased to collaborate and celebrate the enduring appeal of one of the most beloved books of all time, Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen (1775-1817). The story depicts a young woman’s journey from a superficial understanding of goodness and romance to an appreciation of authentic kindness and love. This celebration of Jane Austen and the Regency era includes the high school performance, library programming related to the clothing of the era, a viewing and discussion of the 2005/Keira Knightley movie, and a library raffle of items related to the story and time period.

First published in 1813, the story has been immortalized countlessly on the screen and stage. Public performances of Kate Hamill’s play adaptation of Pride and Prejudice by Hamden High School's Main Stage Ensemble under the direction of Marydell Merrill will take place at the Hamden High School Auditorium, 2040 Dixwell Avenue, November 10 – November 11, 2022 at 7 pm and on November 12, 2022 at 2 pm. Reserve and purchase your tickets at hamdenmainstage.seatyourself.biz.

A fun and delightful show-and-tell on the clothing of early 19th century England (also known as the Regency period) as reflected in Jane Austen’s fiction will be presented by the well regarded performance artist Kandie Carle on Monday, October 24, from 6:30 to 7:30 pm at the Thornton Wilder Auditorium, 2901 Dixwell Avenue. This event is titled Fashion in Fiction: Clothing Speaks Volumes in Jane Austen’s Regency Novels. While dressed in authentic Regency attire, Ms. Carle will give a detailed demonstration of the clothing for both gentlemen and ladies of the early 1800s by dressing two mannequins standing for the two principal characters from the novel as they prepare for a ball. She will share excerpts from Jane Austen’s letters and passages from her novels. This in-person program is sponsored by the Friends of the Hamden Library. It is free and open to the public. Registration is required. Register online at www.hamdenlibrary.org (click on “Programs”), or call 203 287-2680. Seating is limited.

In the weeks leading up to the performance of the play at the Hamden High School, library visitors may participate in a ticket raffle at any of the three Hamden Public Library locations - Miller, Whitneyville, and Brundage Community - by checking out a library item. The winning raffle ticket will not only provide free admission to the play for two, but also a beautiful keepsake box containing a copy of Pride and Prejudice, tea, antique tea cup and saucer, cookies, a Regency Fashion coloring book and colored pencils. The winning tickets (one for each library location) will be pulled on Monday, November 7.

On Saturday, November 19, 2022 at 2 pm, join us in the Friends Room of Miller Library, 2901 Dixwell Ave for a free movie screening of Pride and Prejudice (the popular 2005 movie with Keira Knightley, directed by Joe Wright). The screening will be followed by a discussion comparing the movie and/with the play adaptation which will be facilitated by Associate Library Director, Alyssa Bussard. This event is offered for free and open to the public. Registration is required. Register online at www.hamdenlibrary.org (click on “Programs”), or by calling 203 287-2680. Seating is limited.

This press release was produced by Hamden Public Library. The views expressed here are the author's own.