
Georgiana and Kitty: Christmas at Pemberley now playing at the Northlight Theatre in Skokie offers the third and final installment of Lauren Gunderson and Margot Melcon’s trilogy which follows some of the most cherished characters from Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice.
For those who enjoy the Jane Austen themed material but have not seen the first two installments, have no fear, this play stands just fine on its own and is a lighthearted delight from beginning to end.
Janyce Caraballo takes on the role of Georgiana Darcy, the younger sister of Mr. Fitzwilliam Darcy, who is a feminist musician before her time. Janyce Caraballo is a beautiful ingenue who plays the role with charm and grace. Kitty Bennet (played by Samantha Newcomb), the younger sister of Mr. Darcy’s wife Elizabeth, is her best friend and supporter. Mr. Henry Gray, played by Erik Hellman, makes a nervous but inwardly passionate admirer - and the chemistry between Caraballo and Hellman is the romantic cement that holds the whole show together as the audience is really rooting for them to succeed as a couple.
Gray has met Darcy at one of her concerts and the two flirt with each other using the language of love in obscure musical terms that only they both fully appreciate which is a delight and shows how much he loves her despite the times being unwelcoming to female musicians and songwriters of any kind.
The entire cast, that also includes Yousof Sultani, Amanda Drinkall, Emma Jo Boyden, Andrea San Miguel, Preeti Thaker and Nate Santana, is full of both newcomers to the Northlight stage and mature actors who do a great job in all the supporting roles keeping the pace and humor of the piece moving along nicely.
There is a wonderful message about women, music as a career and freedom of human rights for women to publish music when the two friends create a society to help budding female musicians that gives the entire play a decidedly feminist bend while not detracting at all from the love story unfolding.
The costumes designed by Raquel Adorno are very colorful and lush and give each scene a lovely period feel. Richard and Jacqueline Penrod designed the set, which is simple but effective, although I would have liked to see some movement in the set, and some change between the first and second act which occurs on Christmas day in their home that celebrates the lights and colors of the holiday. The only set decoration that indicates this wealthy home has been decorated for the Christmas day concert event are three little poinsettia plants set gingerly on the edge of the stage. A fully pre-lit Christmas tree or even a projection of Christmas lights and colors would have given the second act the Christmas joy that the title implies will be included.
Marti Lyons directs this very talented cast well and moves the large cast aptly around the beautiful, if static, set design in a way that shows off the best lines of each character. The intimate theater setting at Northlight is a three-sided thrust stage, wherein every seat is a great seat is perfect for this romantic and cheerful holiday offering.
I highly recommend this cheerful, funny, romantic show for audiences of all ages who would like to enjoy a pleasant evening revisiting some of the most beloved Jane Austen characters in a classic yet freshly presented production set in turn of the century London.
Wonderfully directed by Marti Lyons, Georgiana and Kitty: Christmas at Pemberley is being performed at Northlight Theatre through December 24th. For tickets and/or more show information, visit northlight.org.
Curious Theatre Branch, with co-producers Chicago Danztheater Ensemble, Chicago Dramatists and Labyrinth Club, are pleased to announce the 37th annual Rhinoceros Theater…
Collaboraction Theatre Company announced today two major productions for its 2026-27 season: the world premiere of Chicago writer Willie Round’s…
A Red Orchid Theatre is pleased open its 34th Season, exploring the theme of "world on fire," with the Chicago premiere of Will…
Open Space Arts has announced it will stage the Chicago Premiere of THE SWALLOW - the internationally acclaimed drama by…
Chicago Humanities proudly announces the full lineup for its Fall Festival 2026, with conversations ranging from social justice, music, politics, literature, food,…
Tin Drum Theatre Company is proud to announce the cast and creative team for Chicago premiere for A Dark Wood, October 15 -…
The Joffrey Ballet holds open auditions for the Children's Cast of Christopher Wheeldon's The Nutcracker at its downtown studios in Joffrey Tower, 10 East…
Midsommer Flight will for the third year present a one-night-only staged reading of a play from the EXPAND THE CANON list,…
Oil Lamp Theater, presenting I Love You Because, August 14 - September 13, is proud to announce the cast and creative team…
The Sarah Siddons Society is honored to present its 2026 Leading Artist Award to James Moore, Music Director and Conductor of Lincoln Center Theatre's…
House of the Exquisite Corpse, Chicago’s one and only puppet haunted house, returns for its sixth Halloween season with a…
Red Clay Dance Company, Chicago's premier Afro-contemporary dance company, proudly announces its exciting Season 18: Spectrum programming, including Founding Artistic Director and…
Break out your Burn Book and mark these dates: Aurora’s Paramount Theatre is launching its 15th Broadway Series with the…
American Blues Theater, under the continued leadership of Executive Artistic Director Gwendolyn Whiteside, announces the recipient of the 2026 Blue Ink Award is Nia Akilah…
In times of stress, we often turn to familiar and comforting things: a favorite song, a dog-eared book, a movie…
Chamber music may be one of music’s most misunderstood children. An early form of classical music, it has always been…
This summer, the Starship Edsel boldly goes where they maybe shouldn’t go as Otherworld Theatre, Chicago’s premier destination for Science…
Remy Bumppo Theatre Company is pleased to announce the cast, creative and production teams for the first production in its 2026…
Victory Gardens Theater (2433 N. Lincoln Avenue), an historic incubator for new play development, proudly announces the World Premiere staging of The…
Secrets, sisterhood and solving crime take center stage this fall in the world premiere co-production of Dead Girl's Quinceañera by Miami native…
Steppenwolf Theatre Company, the nation's premier ensemble theater company, is pleased to continue its 51st Season with the world premiere of Chicago playwright Stephanie…
Writers Theatre, under the leadership of Executive Director Kathryn M. Lipuma and Alexandra C. and John D. Nichols Artistic Director Braden Abraham, concluded its 2025/26…
Chicago City Opera (CCO) presents an evening of two one act Mozart operas The Impresario and Bastien and Bastienne combined…
Producers Kevin McCollum and Kurt Deutsch, along with Broadway In Chicago are thrilled to announce THE NOTEBOOK, a new musical based…
Following last year’s smashing sold-out engagement, the Joan W. and Irving B. Harris Theater for Music and Dance proudly presents the return…
Chicago Magic Lounge welcomes back acclaimed magician David Parr as its Fall Artist in Residence with David Parr: Time Traveler, a new theatrical experience…
Nearly fifty years after its groundbreaking premiere, Ntozake Shange's for colored girls who have considered suicide / when the rainbow…
A quick history lesson: Anne Bonny and Mary Read are two of history’s most famous female pirates. Both women disguised…
PrideArts' 2026-27 season will open in August with the world premiere of Chicago-based playwright Matt Schutz's WINDOWS, a comedy of LGBT…
The Tony Award® winning Best Musical, THE OUTSIDERS, based on the seminal novel by S.E. Hinton and Francis Ford Coppola’s landmark motion picture, returns to Chicago…
Otherworld Theatre's Starship Edsel - Second City’s De Maat Theatre - Through September 13
CHICAGO HUMANITIES announces full Fall Festival 2026 programming
Tin Drum Theatre Company announces Chicago premiere of A Dark Wood by Eric Coble, Oct. 15–Nov. 1 at Greenhouse Theater Center
The 37th annual Rhinoceros Theater Festival Returns September 20 – October 26 at Six Chicago venues
Does your theatre company want to connect with Buzz Center Stage or would you like to reach out and say "hello"? Message us through facebook or shoot us an email at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
*This disclaimer informs readers that the views, thoughts, and opinions expressed in the text belong solely to the author, and not necessarily to Buzz Center Stage. Buzz Center Stage is a non-profit, volunteer-based platform that enables, and encourages, staff members to post their own honest thoughts on a particular production.