Much Ado in Meryton by Riana Everly - Blog Tour, Guest Post, Excerpt and Giveaway

Today I’m very happy to be welcoming Riana Everly back to the blog with the blog tour for her new book, Much Ado in Meryton. From the title, you will have guessed there is a Shakespeare influence mixed with a bit of Pride & Prejudice, as the title also mentions Meryton. Although I try and keep my blog mostly focussed on Austen, I actually read Much Ado About Nothing in my early blogging days, so you can learn a bit more about the play here if you're not familiar with it..

Riana has joined us with a guest post about home theatricals, which feature in her book, and also featured in Austen’s life and in Mansfield Park. She’s also treating us to an excerpt from the book. There is also an ebook giveaway to accompany the blog tour. Let’s look at the blurb and then I’ll hand over to Riana for her guest post.

Book Description 

A tale of friends, enemies, and the power of love.

"Thou and I are too wise to woo peaceably." – Benedick, Much Ado About Nothing, 5.2

Mr. Darcy's arrival in Meryton raises many people's disdain, and Elizabeth Bennet's ire. An insult at a dance is returned in full measure, and soon the two find themselves in a merry war of words, trading barbs at every encounter. Matters go from bad to worse when Elizabeth and Darcy find themselves living under the same roof for a time, and their constant bickering frays everybody's nerves.

Will a clever scheme by their family and friends bring some peace to Netherfield's halls? And what of Mr. Wickham, whose charming presence is not quite so welcome by some members of the party? When the games get out of hand and nastier elements come into play, will everybody's chances for happiness be ruined forever?

This clever mash-up of Pride and Prejudice and Shakespeare's Much Ado About Nothing casts our beloved characters in fresh light, uniting Jane Austen's keen insight into love and character, and Shakespeare's biting wit.

Guest Post from Riana Everly - Home Theatricals in Jane Austen’s Time

Thank you, Ceri, for hosting me here today, and Happy New Year to everybody. Please accept my wishes for a happy and healthy 2022.

Today I have theatre on my mind, and only partly because my new novel is itself partly based on Shakespeare’s play, Much Ado About Nothing.

In my recent release, Much Ado in Meryton, poor Jane Bennet breaks her ankle and is housebound at Netherfield for much longer than the three days in Pride and Prejudice. During this prolonged time, despite her frequent and not-so-pleasant interactions with Mr. Darcy, Lizzy helps Mr. Bingley keep Jane entertained. One of the activities they plan is an afternoon of home theatricals.

So what, exactly, was this fad all about?

Painting by William Hogarth:
Scene from The Beggar's Opera

During the late 18^th and early 19^th centuries, home theatricals were quite the rage in the upper echelons of society. There was a wealth of first-rate theatrical works in the English tradition by that time, dating from before Shakespeare, and supplemented by such brilliant playwrights as Farquhar, Goldsmith, and Sheridan, and the tradition of going to the theatre was equally established. But the Georgian theatre was not always a savoury place to be. Audiences were boorish and loud, and sometimes even dangerous. It was not unknown for a riot to break out during a play. And while many from the highest ranks continued to patronise the theatre, a great many also opted to enjoy dramatic offerings in the privacy of their own homes.

We all know people who love the stage, and this itch to act was present in all classes. Being able to put on rather elaborate productions at home was a luxury in which the upper classes indulged with fervour. Furthermore, such private productions were completely private, since the Licensing Act of 1737 imposed a fine on anyone acting for “hire, gain, or reward,” in any play not previously cleared by the Lord Chamberlain. Such exclusivity must only have increased the allure of mounting a home production of some favourite play.

It is this type of production we see in Jane Austen’s novel Mansfield Park, where the Bertrams and their friends not only read a play (and a rather scandalous one, at that—Lovers’ Vows by Elizabeth Inchbald), but rehearse to perform it. There are costumes, sets (including the large curtain that Mrs. Norris later appropriates for herself), and even a select audience of some friends from the neighbourhood. Through the lens of this production, we see evolving relationships and character development amongst the crew, ultimately leading to some very bad decisions for some people, and rather dire consequences.

Painting of Sarah Siddons
by Thomas Gainsborough

Many at the time would have nodded their heads and urged extreme caution. In the early 19^th century, theatre was still straddling that line between the respectable and the not. Although some performers were held in great regard, as we see with the likes of Mrs. Siddons, a favourite of King George III, actresses were still often considered a step away from harlots. Many actresses did, in fact, supplement their earnings from the stage with more, er, private performances, sometimes as mistresses to a single gentleman, sometimes with whomever was paying the rent or buying supper. In this light, women, especially, were cautioned about the dangers that play-acting could occasion. Flirtations, sexual innuendo, and the general lack of restraint that theatre involved were all perils to a young lady’s character.

But despite the unhappy light that Austen shines on the play in Mansfield Park, she was not against the idea of home theatricals at all. Indeed, the Austen family was known to engage in private theatrical performances at Steventon Rectory first in the dining parlour and later in the large barn, between 1782 and 1789, when Jane was a child and young teenager. She, herself, wrote three mini-plays (The Visit, A Mystery, and the first act of A Comedy, now all collected in her juvenilia), and may have been involved in the creation of other works the family put on. Considering the huge effort and attention home theatricals often involved, young Jane must surely have been involved in most aspects of organising, rehearsing, and performing popular and classical plays for a select private audience. Later in life, Jane Austen is known to have enjoyed a great many theatrical performances in London, and actively followed many famous actresses much as someone today might follow Hollywood stars.

Playbill of 'The Rivals'

Among the many plays the Austen family is known to have put on is Richard Sheridan’s The Rivals, which they performed in 1784. I have seen this play and laughed my way through it and decided to use it in Much Ado in Meryton.

This is the play that Charles Bingley decides to read one afternoon at Netherfield, during Jane’s convalescence. The story involves secrets and hidden identities, where not everybody is who he or she seems.

Here is an excerpt from the novel. I hope you enjoy it.

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On the second day, Mr. Bingley had yet another plan for their combined amusement. He had been through all the shelves in the library at Netherfield and had discovered some plays which he proposed the company read aloud. “Look, here are some copies of Sheridan’s The Rivals,” he announced, holding a pile of pamphlets containing the lines of the play. “Let us each take a part. Here, I shall be Jack, unless another wishes to take that role. And Miss Bennet, are you inclined to act a part? Perhaps, as the guest of honour at this little party, you would wish to read Lydia.”

“What? Jane be Lydia?” the youngest Bennet daughter cried out. “That cannot be, for I am Lydia, and only Lydia should read Lydia!”

“Perhaps you should read Lydia, Lizzy,” Jane offered. “You have often confessed to me that only the deepest love would tempt you into marriage, and here is a character who, if I recall the play, desires a deeply romantic affair de coeur.”

Lydia Bennet flounced off in a huff at being denied and went to sit by a small cluster of visiting officers. Elizabeth kept her sigh internal; her sister would one day come to no good if she kept on this way.

But all thoughts of her sister were cast aside when, beside her, she saw Mr. Darcy blink at Jane’s words about her desire for true love. Was he surprised at this? She had thought, after their few days of entente, that he knew her rather well. She wondered if this piece of news would increase the ardency of his devotions to her. For now, she must respond to Jane.

“But what of you, Jane? What shall you read?”

Her sister demurred. “I am no great actress. Let me take a lesser part. Perhaps Julia, who has some very sweet lines. Perhaps I can read her.”

“Then you, Bingley,” Richard joked, “ought to read Faulkland. He makes some very high-flown speeches, which will sit well with you.”

Mr. Bingley clearly did not know the play, for he seemed pleased with this suggestion, and at length the parts were divided up and the pamphlets distributed to all those wishing to participate.

“How unlike Faulkland Mr. Bingley is,” Elizabeth confessed to Darcy when they had a moment to talk together. “Mr. Bingley is so open and happy to be pleased, whilst Faulkland is of a very jealous nature, always believing his lover to be false.”

Darcy laughed. “Indeed, it is so. But whilst Bingley is not a jealous man by nature, he is easily led. In that way, he is not so different from his character.”

“Easily led?” Elizabeth asked.

Darcy pursed his lips. “When first I made the suggestion, so many months ago, that he lease an estate, I meant it in jest, but he took it right to heart and was immediately convinced that this is what he must do. He is always happy where he is, but it takes very little for him to change his mind completely. Why, to see him right now, one would think he never wishes to leave the countryside, but it would take but a breath for him to decide that London is the only place he wishes to be.”

“I had not thought him so fickle in his ways.”

Darcy looked very serious. “I would not term him fickle, for he always intends to be true to his course. But it takes very little—a comment, or a suggestion, or a joke, even—to turn him to a new path, to which he also intends to remain quite faithful.”

“Then,” she replied most soberly, “let us hope nothing arises to turn his feet now.”

  ~ * ~ * ~

Author Bio

Riana Everly was born in South Africa, but has called Canada home since she was eight years old. She has a Master’s degree in Medieval Studies and is trained as a classical musician, specialising in Baroque and early Classical music. She first encountered Jane Austen when her father handed her a copy of Emma at age 11, and has never looked back.

Riana now lives in Toronto with her family. When she is not writing, she can often be found playing string quartets with friends, biking around the beautiful province of Ontario with her husband, trying to improve her photography, thinking about what to make for dinner, and, of course, reading!

Riana’s novels have received several awards and citations as favourite reads of the year, including two Jane Austen Awards and a Discovering Diamonds review.

You can follow Riana's blog, and join her on Facebook and Twitter (@RianaEverly). She loves meeting readers!

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Buy Links

Much Ado in Meryton is available to buy now in Paperback and various types of ebook including Kindle, Apple books and Nook. 

Buy Link: https://books2read.com/muchadoinmeryton

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Giveaway Time!

Riana is kindly giving away five eBooks internationally of Much Ado in Meryton. She has set up a Rafflecopter draw, but for anybody who cannot use the link, please email Riana at RianaEverly@gmail.com with your name and preferred email address and she will add you manually to the list for the draw. Good luck!

To enter the giveaway please use the Rafflecopter

Note about comments:  If you have any problems adding your comment please contact me and I will add your comment for you :)

Blog Tour Schedule

Here are Riana’s blog tour stops! 

January 7 ~ Babblings of a Bookworm
January 10 ~ Interests of a Jane Austen Girl
January 11 ~ A Novel Sentiment
January 13 ~ So Little Time… So Much to Read
January 14 ~ Austen Authors
January 17 ~ From Pemberley to Milton
January 22 ~ My Love for Jane Austen
January 27 ~ Austenesque Reviews