Two high school productions of Pride and Prejudice are coming up in the next couple of weeks on opposite sides of the U.S.

Mt. Pleasant Area High School (near Pittsburgh)’s production will take place starting tonight and running through Saturday.

Senior Holly Bittel will portray Mrs. Bennet.

“This has been a challenge for me because I’m not used to being so uptight,” Bittel said. “And I think that it’s funny how my character snaps at Lizzy for saying things that were considered then to be so outrageous and that aren’t really anything today.”

Mt. Whitney High School in Visalia, CA will have their production next weekend.

So what’s the attraction of “Pride and Prejudice” for a 21st century teenager?

“I think people can relate to the story of a headstrong girl sticking up for what she believes in,” Yan said. “And, of course, everyone falls in love with Mr. Darcy.”

Thanks to Alert Janeite Lisa for the links.