 PRIDE AND PREJUDICE
Book, Music and Lyrics by Bernard J. Taylor : Additional lyrics
by Michael Yelland and Frank Bacon; based on the novel by Jane
Austen
Synopsis
The story begins in Longbourn, home of Mr and Mrs Bennet
and their five daughters - June, Elizabeth, Mary, Kitty and Lydia. Mrs
Bennet is anxious to have her daughters marry well as their home, due
to the conditions of the Inheritance Laws, is to be inherited by Mr Bennet's
cousin, Mr Collins. Mr Collins is a clergyman who lives near Rosings,
an estate owned by Lady Catherine de Bourgh. Netherfield, an estate near
Longbourn, is rented by a young gentleman named Charles Bingley. Mr Bingley
resides there together with his sister Caroline and good friend, Mr. Darcy.
At a ball Mr Darcy insults Elizabeth Bennet and her
family, whilst Mr Bingley is quite taken with Jane Bennet. Already
being hurt by Mr Darcy, Elizabeth is willing to believe the untruths
told to her by the dashing Mr Wickham. Mr Collins arrives at Longbourn
and, in due course, proposes to Elizabeth. When refused by her he marries
Charlotte Lucas, Elizabeth's close friend. Darcy and Caroline Bingley
arrange for Bingley's business to take him to London away from Netherfield
and Jane Bennet.
Whilst Elizabeth is visiting Charlotte near Rosings,
she and Darcy meet several times. Darcy is visiting his Aunt, Lady de
Bourgh and Cousin Anne. He falls in love with Elizabeth and proposes,
but Elizabeth, believing the lies told to her by Wickham, refuses the
proposal. Upon hearing the rumours being spread about him Darcy tells
Elizabeth the truth about Wickham. On her visit to Derbyshire with her
Aunt and Uncle, Elizabeth and her relatives visit Pemberley, the home
of Mr Darcy and with whom they have a chance meeting.
As she is travelling Elizabeth receives news that her
younger sister Lydia has eloped with Wickham. To keep the family name
from ruin, Darcy makes sure Lydia and Wickham marry. By accident, Elizabeth
finds out about Darcy's help in arranging the marriage and her feelings
towards him begin to mellow.
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