Amanda Testini, the young Burnaby actress who plays the part of Lydia, the headstrong and giddy Bennet sister in the Arts Club’s highly successful Christmas offering of Miss Bennet: Christmas at Pemberley, is just as energetic and determined as her theatre character.
She graduated from Burnaby North Secondary School and, during the summers, started performing in Theatre Under the Stars productions. She played trumpet at North as well, but she knew she wanted a career in theatre, so at only age 17, went alone to Toronto to study at The Randolph Academy for the Performing Arts, learning theatre, dance and singing as well as acting.
Back in B.C., she studied at Studio 58 at Langara College and appeared in many East Van Panto and Carousel productions, including Peter Pan and Pinocchio.
She’s enjoying her role of Lydia.
“It’s a wonderful role,” she said. “Lydia is shamelessly frivolous, likes entertainment and fun, but there is an underlying vulnerability, too. She eventually sees she’s really hurting her sisters and apologizes when she finally realizes it.”
Testini is also enjoying playing in Regency costumes on the beautiful period drawing room set by Ted Roberts, with a view of the decorated Christmas tree outdoors in the falling snow. The play is an imagined sequel, two years later, to Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice, with the same characters, faithfully capturing the same wit and elegance.
Elizabeth (Lauren Jackson) and Darcy (Chris Walters) have invited the Bennet sisters to their mansion for Christmas. Mary (Kate Dion-Richard) the bookish sister, gets a chance at romance, but of course, it doesn’t run smoothly (partly the fault of Testini as Lydia) - but we still get a happy ending.
“I’m the only new person in the cast, and I got such warm welcome,” said Testini, who makes the most of her mischievous character.
This Christmas confection that was such a hit last year runs at the Arts Club’s Granville Island Stage till Jan. 4, 2020. See www.artsclub.com or call the box office at 604-687-1644.
