Listen up, would-be Elizabeth Bennets and Mr Darcys, because this party is going to be off the meat rack. The BBC is to recreate the Netherfield Ball for 200th anniversary of Pride and Prejudice.
Guest will be invited to party like it's 1813, with an authentic Regency ball brought to life by the BBC — britches and all. A crack team of experts are planning the authentic recreation based on Austen's Netherfield Ball, filmed on location at Chawton House, Hampshire. Every aspect will be absolutely true to 1813, from the food to the costumes to the moves on the dance floor (and who hasn't watched the BBC miniseries and felt serious pangs of envy during those group dance scenes?).
AdvertisementADVERTISEMENT
The show promises to take "an intelligent look at the social history of Austen’s world and explore how, as well as drinking, dancing and jollity, balls had an important purpose — to help women find a husband." While we admit that things were far from perfect in 1813 — from the absence of proper personal hygiene to the lack of women's — we're still suckers for anything involving bonnets.
Now all we need to do is loiter by our letterbox and wait for Mr Darcy to hand-deliver our invitation on horseback. It could happen.
Pride and Prejudice's official anniversary is January 27. BBC2 will screen the programme Pride and Prejudice: Having A Ball at Easter this spring.
Photo: Courtesy of Universal Pictures