Australia playwright Emma Wood, the creator of Mr Bennet’s Bride, said the idea for the play came to her suddenly. 

“The idea just dropped into my head in a way I can’t explain,” Emma said. 

Mr Bennet’s Bride focuses on two of the most beloved characters from Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice and is set 25 years before the novel. 

Mr James Bennet, only son of Robert Bennet, in his late twenties, has resisted marrying a suitable girl, because he resents his father’s attitude. 

Robert does not seek happiness for James, but wishes to expedite a match to ensure male heirs, and keep his dreadful cousin Benedict Collins from inheriting.

Ms Wood, an actor and director who had just written her first full-length play when she penned Mr Bennet’s Bride, said she wanted to remain as authentic as possible.

Robert, on the advice of his sister Mary, gives James six months to meet a suitable young woman, and has his lawyer draw up a contract to hold him to it.

The family lawyer, George Gardiner, sees an opportunity to throw his attractive, but vulgar daughter in the way of the young landowner.

“I thought, ‘this could be fun,’ and I started writing,” she said.

“It was a fun, exciting idea, Austen-mania all over, there is no known prequel.”

The first production of the play was performed in Newcastle in 2013 where Ms Wood helped out with the production and attended rehearsals. 

Ms Wood says she was fortunate enough to see the Cowra M&D’s production of the play on opening night. 

“I ask myself, ‘did I write it clearly enough?” Ms Wood said. 

“From what I saw in Cowra, it’s pretty much what I would expect.

“It was an enjoyable night, the actors had to keep going through that hail storm!” 

There are two more performances of Mr Bennet’s Bride at the Cowra Civic Centre on Friday, October 28 at 7.30pm and Saturday, October 29 at 7.30pm. 

Tickets are available at the door and are $20 for adults and $15 for concessions.