Step into Jane Austen's Christmas party with Mr. Darcy at this OKC holiday show

While circling, spinning and turning through the English country dance Alice on a recent weeknight, I suddenly found myself partnered with none other than Mr. Fitzwilliam Darcy, who chivalrously guided me through the only vaguely familiar steps.

Over the course of the evening, I also accepted an invitation to dance with Colonel Brandon, watched my 12-year-old daughter, Brenna, waltz through the Duke of Kent and got reacquainted with Miss Elizabeth Bennet — or at least the one played by local actor Jessa Schinske.

"It's just a very fun show, because it's different every time," said Schinske, a returning cast member, during a break in rehearsals for Oklahoma Shakespeare in the Park's holiday production "Jane Austen's Christmas Cracker." 

"Audience interaction makes every show different, and our director, I think, has been different most years. So, it's interesting to see the different approaches — and it's always delightful."

Part Regency Era holiday party, part theatrical performance, part improvisational theater and part historical re-enactment, the original yuletide production is making its second comeback Dec. 9-23 inside Oklahoma Shakespeare's recently remodeled indoor black box theater in the Paseo Arts District. The festive, family-friendly show is adapted by Oklahoma playwright Erin Woods from the iconic novelist's books and family letters.

"I am super excited that we get to do it again. ... We were open last year, but it was like, 'Um, an interactive play with food where you dance? Maybe not.' So, I'm glad that we are able to do all that this year," said Oklahoma Shakespeare Executive Producer Tyler Woods, who is also Erin Woods' husband.

"It's always fun because Erin reworks it every year, so every time you see it, it's different. And this year we're bringing our daughter, Leia — she's 3 now — and it will be her first play, which we're really excited about because it's her mommy's play."

Holiday production comes back after COVID-19 cancellation

"Jane Austen's Christmas Cracker" was a seasonal tradition for three years at Reduxion Theatre, the OKC classical company Tyler and Erin Woods operated from 2007 to 2016. In 2019, Oklahoma Shakespeare took up the immersive title to cap its 35th season.

Oklahoma Shakespeare planned to reprise the popular yuletide production in 2020, but the small professional theater was forced to cancel the holiday show — along with the rest of its remaining plays — after the spring COVID-19 outbreak.

"My favorite part about this, I think it is the audience interaction — and it's an opportunity for characters who wouldn't normally interact to interact. All the stories are truncated, and we all get to react to each other. That's something special and different — and it's fun to always watch," said Schinske, who is starring in her fourth "Christmas Cracker" as the heroine of "Pride and Prejudice."

"There's something for everybody: If you're somebody who doesn't like to see theater, don't worry, because there are times where you can just hang out and have ice cream. ... If you love Jane Austen, you love the stories. But if you're listening for the first time, you get a small bit of that story ... that's exciting without being bogged down by all this information that you've never heard before."

Jane Austen's stories remain timeless and trendy

Back on the dance floor, Cam Taylor, playing Colonel Brandon, made a beeline for Bell Reeves' Marianne Dashwood, his love interest from Austen's classic novel "Sense and Sensibility," as the cast members lined up to run through First of April, another dance from Austen's day.

"It's all of your responsibilities to be mindful of those audience members and to guide them where they need to go. Some of you are doing that beautifully already, and some of you, I know you're going to catch on and it's going to be like instinct. But just be aware," said Amanda Lee, the show's director, coaching the performers as they took their places.

"They're looking to all of us to really guide them — and it's a beautiful thing to watch, too, the helpfulness of you working with them."

Published primarily during the Regency Era of 1811 to 1820, Austen's novels tell stories of the British gentry during her lifetime — she was born in 1775 and died in 1817 at age 41 — but they remain perpetually popular and have been especially trendy lately.

"Her work is timeless; the themes and her characters are timeless. Their stories, their struggles, their goals, they've touched a lot of people's hearts. They've resonated with people, and that's why, today, Jane Austen remains such a phenomenon," said Taylor, who is making his Oklahoma Shakespeare in the Park debut with the show.

"To get to be a part of this show, with so many of her iconic characters, has been really fun."

This year's version of "Jane Austen's Christmas Cracker" features characters from "Sense and Sensibility," "Persuasion" and, of course, "Pride and Prejudice" interacting with each other, members of the audience and their creator and her sister, Cassandra Austen (portrayed by Karis McMurry and Lindsey Rollins, respectively).

"A lot of Jane Austen fans come to this. They'll be next to each other and next to us when we're all dancing, and you'll hear them say, 'Oh, Lizzy and Darcy are dancing together.' So, you're right there for the interaction — and you can react with them. So, it just makes a very collaborative effort, both in the rehearsal process and in performing it," Schinske said.

Interactive show incorporates Regency Era dances and games

Along with watching excerpts of Austen's beloved stories play out, audience members will be invited to sing along to vintage Christmas carols and feast on festive (if not exactly historically accurate) treats.

A few willing ticketholders will be picked to participate in each of the 19th-century dances as well as the Regency Era games like the fan favorite Squeal, Piggy, Squeal — "That one's a blast," Schinske said — and the new addition Forfeits.

Watching the cast practice the intricate steps of a dance fancifully named Ramsgate Assembly, Lee said she hopes those who attend Oklahoma Shakespeare's Christmas soiree will allow themselves to be swept up in the occasion.

"It's important for me that everybody knows that they're coming to a party. They're guests at this ball; they're not audience members. ... You're the guests of Jane and Cassandra Austen at this ball. And if you want to participate in everything, great. If you want to just sit and be a guest, great," she said.

"Like every party, there's highs and lows. ... I started crying the other day at rehearsal, I couldn't control it, I just started blubbering, because Erin wrote this beautiful scene. You're coming out of these dances and carols and then you have this moment that has so much pathos and depth to it. ... It's all just a really lovely thing to be a part of."

'JANE AUSTEN'S CHRISTMAS CRACKER'

When: Through Dec. 23.

Where: Oklahoma Shakespeare in the Park's indoor black box theater, 2920 Paseo.

Tickets and information: https://www.okshakes.org.

This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Step into Jane Austen's Christmas party with this Oklahoma City theater