Oh, Mr Darcy!!!

Well to follow up The Bender, Lydia was holding a 'Girls' Night In' party to raise money for charity, but mostly so we could watch all SIX HOURS of the 1995 BBC production of Pride and Prejudice starring Jennifer Ehle as Miss Elizabeth Bennet (Lizzie to her friends) and Colin Firth as Mister Fitzwilliam Darcy.

That room was just so full of love for those six hours. We sat enraptured and marvelled at the civility of 19th century mating rituals - when Mr Bingley asked if he could reserve the first two dances with Jane Bennet, why didn't he just ask for her hand right then and there!!! We'd also try to translate the regency-speak into modern jargon. For example:

• My friend requested and introduction = My mate thinks you're hot
• Obstinate, selfish girl! = You bitch!
  

One of the girls declared that she could in no way have put up with all the formality of the Regency world and if she were in the 19th century, she would have been a drunkard or a prostitute or a drunk prostitute.

Can I just say, the casting in that production is just PERFECT. I don't need to talk about how Jennifer is Lizzie or that Colin Firth has been cast as Darcy ever since (but it's a good living!). Okay, Julia Sawalha was probably too old to play Lydia Bennet (she was 25 playing a 15 year old) but she was suitably annoying and frustrating as the silly girl. We all agreed that the real centrepiece of P&P is David Bamber as Mr. Collins. Seriously. He is just as smarmy and disgusting and repulsive and crawling and blerk that we just sat there screaming whenever he came on screen.

It was also amusing to dissect the make up and costuming - how breeches are so unflattering on the men. The way empire line dresses made them look like the girls were wearing nightgowns or curtains depending on the fabric. How could the men breathe with those tall collars and cravats. The way all the girls could not show their legs but so long as nipples weren't visible, the neckline could be as low as you wanted...unless you were supposed to be unattractive (i.e. Mary Bennet or Charlotte Lucas) and then they were covered up. And the way make up put bags and pimples on Mary.

It's been about 3 years since I last watched it. I didn't remember all the cheesy intercuts, the replay of scenes or voiceovers of key parts of the story, the soft focuses....hehehehehe. The stray hair at the top of the camera during the Netherfield Ball scene. The fake snow. The way Darcy never cracks a smile until the end. The way Darcy just got up and walked away whenever conversation didn't suit him. Hilarious.

Yes, it was highly enjoyable watching as we lay there eating M&Ms, marshmallows, shortbread and cupcakes watching Lizze reject offer after offer and then end up with a man with one of the greatest estates in Derbyshire.

You didn't really thin I'd leave without mentioning The Wet Shirt Scene, did you? We actually sat up straight for that part.

*grrl!*