Elizabeth Bennet, reinvented: Teo Vergara on PRIDE AND PREJUDICE (*SORT OF)
Pride and Prejudice (*sort of) is an audacious, pop-song-fuelled retelling of Jane Austen’s most iconic love story, in which five performers spin through every role — Elizabeth Bennet, Mr Darcy, Jane, Bingley, the Bennet parents, and beyond — as men, money, and microphones are fought over with equal parts irreverence and affection.
Written by Isobel McArthur, the show swaps corsets-and-restraint for karaoke classics like Young Hearts Run Free, Will You Love Me Tomorrow and You’re So Vain, arriving in Australia fresh off a Best Comedy win at the Olivier Awards in the West End. It’s the kind of high-wire reinvention that only works because the audience already loves the source material — and Austen’s tale of love, class, and thwarted matchmaking remains one of the most enduringly adapted stories in the English language, endlessly reworked precisely because its wit and social bite still land two centuries on.
Now playing at the Sydney Opera House’s Drama Theatre after its premiere Melbourne season, the production runs through 30 August before continuing on to Wollongong, Canberra and Brisbane. Among the Australian cast is Teo Vergara, playing Effie and Elizabeth Bennet.
Teo Vergara is an actor, singer, dancer and a graduate of the Victorian College of the Arts (VCA), holding a Bachelor of Fine Arts with a major in Music Theatre. They made their screen debut in the ABC series Crazy Fun Park (2023), directed and created by Nick Verso, portraying the character Bridget. They followed this by starring in the queer and gender diverse series Turn Up The Volume (ABC), playing Quinn. They were also a member of the original Australian cast for Jagged Little Pill: The Alanis Morissette Musical, directed by Leah Howard, which toured nationally. Most recently, Teo starred in the original Australian musical Converted!, created by Vic Zerbst for the Australian Theatre for Young People (directed by Hayden Tonazz). Teo can also currently be seen in the lead role of Laura in the animated adventure film A Sloth Story (2024), directed by Tania Vincent and Ricard Cussó.
For anyone coming in expecting a traditional Jane Austen adaptation, what surprises are in store?
Teo: Our adaption is far from the romance drama that Pride and Prejudice fans might be used to – our story is told by five maids who step into the 20 characters of the show through some of the quickest changes you’ve ever seen – with the most brilliant characterisation to match. We incorporate elements of karaoke to elevate the narrative and bring a fresh modern approach to the classic rom com. Overall it is a bright, warm, hilarious take on Austen’s story.
This show asks its cast to juggle comedy, music, movement and multiple characters. What’s been the biggest challenge (or perhaps the biggest joy) of bringing it all together?
Teo: The show itself has improved my endurance ten fold – each of us actors board a train at the top of the show and we don’t stop until the final number. The pace of the comedy is absolutely relentless, and obviously combining that with accents, singing and movement my focus has to be 100% every show. Looking after myself is taking a new meaning, and even after performing the show over 40 times I’m finding new details and things to focus on. I’m lucky that I am the only actor who gets to follow the narrative of a single character throughout the show (Elizabeth Bennett) and it has truly been such a blessing to get to inhabit her carelessness and confidence, and drive the show forward. Being the vehicle for the story has been daunting, but after settling in I am truly loving it – and I am so supported by my cast mates on stage who are all absolute power houses.
Is there a particular scene or musical number that you find yourself especially looking forward to performing each night, and what makes it so special?
Teo: Yes! I love singing “Lady in Red” in the second act- the sounds of recognition from the audience is very fun. I’ve heard quite a few people singing along with me through the season which has been very sweet. Such a romantic song and it balances the true feelings of Liz to Darcy whilst still being a hilarious shoehorn. Also, there’s a gag with a letter written to Elizabeth in the second act that I look forward to every night that totally encapsulates what I feel she is as a character – but you’ll have to book a ticket to see what it is!!
As a non-binary performer, how meaningful has it been to be part of a production like Pride and Prejudice (*sort of), which embraces such a fluid and playful approach to gender and identity?
Teo: Absolutely everything. The show itself is such a huge queering of the traditional narrative with huge sapphic representation, and reading the show for the first time through a queer lens I was so excited to potentially be a part of it. Elements of drag in a show always make me weak. Although I don’t play any male characters, getting dressed as Effie (my maid persona) and Liz has very lovingly started to be referred to as my “regency drag” because that’s exactly what it feels like to me. Being able to represent my community in a commercial space like this makes me infinitely happy.
The show plays with ideas of gender, expectations and the roles society asks us to perform. Have those themes resonated with you personally in unexpected ways?
Teo: All of the themes of societal expectation, gender and class hit very close to home for me. Being trans nonbinary I walk through the world rejecting an expectation of me, and over my journey of transition have been actively untangling the rules and regulations that are implicitly placed upon everyone in the society we live in. Liz’s blatant rejection of what is expected of her has stood the test of time and highlights how far we’ve come, but also makes us reflect on how far we have to go in terms of battling misogyny in today’s society. Audiences are still relating to her and still astounded by her. She has reminded me of my bravery and also made me stand more fully and confidently in who I am.
What do you hope Australian audiences take away from Pride and Prejudice (*sort of)?
Teo: A good laugh!! In the climate that we are living in today a bit of lightness wouldn’t hurt anyone. Experiencing the whirlwind of talent and passion on our stage will hopefully leave audiences feeling lighter than when they walked in.
Jane Austen’s characters are famously opinionated. If you could invite one of them to dinner, who would it be and why?
Teo: This is tough but I think I’d pick Charlotte Lucas – specifically the version from our production. I want to feed her a big meal and tell her closeted heart that it is so so loved.
If you had to describe Pride and Prejudice (sort of) in just three words, what would they be?
Teo: Hilarious, truthful, fresh.
Pride and Prejudice (*sort of) is currently playing at the Drama Theatre, Sydney Opera House.
For tickets and more information, visit prideandprejudicesortof.com.au
Header photo by Matthew Chen
