Labor of Love

literally: how our director delivered a show and a daughter

Every woman I’ve encountered over the last few months when hearing Parker Players was producing an adaptation of Pride & Prejudice quickly shared their Austen origin story. They discovered Jane through a beloved grandmother, an English teacher, Keira Knightley. One woman behind me in a grocery check-out lane actually pulled out a Pride & Prejudice embossed journal from her purse. Each of these women hold a clear beloved vision of Elizabeth Bennet and Mr Darcy in their mind. And of course, I’m one of them. I’ve devoured every Austen novel since I was young. I studied all of Austen’s works at Oriel College in Oxford University and I’ve toured Bath, England multiple times.

So, in order to bring our production of Kate Hamill’s frothy, wonderful adaptation I HAD to find a director who loved Austen as much and even more than I did.

I found her.

I hired Sara Mountjoy-Pepka for Pride & Prejudice in the fall of 2024 after only a few discussions, realizing quickly how much our visions aligned for this unique farcical adaptation of the story. Sara was an ideal match. Steeped in Shakespeare, professional miming, and improv—specifically Jane AUSTEN improv—we drew up the contract. But then a couple months later, Sara found she was pregnant with her second child and would be due around August 8. The catch? She’d delivered her first child about 4 weeks early. Which, if that happened again with Pride & Prejudice, would bring her possible due date to the opening show on July 18. She let me know she would understand entirely if I released her and secured another director. I considered the situation for about 5 minutes. Then decided. Nope—no way would I find another director. If necessary—I could step in and finish the production process. But more to the point—why would I give up essentially this perfect match between play and director?

Sara wasn’t sick, she wasn’t incapacitated—she was just...pregnant!

Sara and I held auditions and cast outstanding actors—main cast AND understudies. We held production meetings, and Sara showered us with creative ideas from music to scenic design, to costuming, putting everything into incredibly detailed spreadsheets shared with our entire team. Tired, but focused, she directed 4 rehearsals per week, using words and hand motions to draw out physically comedic choices from the actors (rather than demonstrate herself!) and the cast knew they’d nailed it when her laugh boomed off the theater walls.

We made it to the design run on June 30, then took a break for the 4^th of July holiday.  The Saturday before we were to return to our final two weeks of rehearsals, Sara called. She was 5 cm dilated and told she was going to have her baby that night. I touched base with all team members and cast, and we prepared to move forward without Sara. Except. She didn’t have her baby. Instead, she began a week and a half trek back and forth from hospital to home in what she called the longest labor known to woman.

She existed in a limbo state between two unfinished creations—her production of Pride & Prejudice and her baby girl. So, she worked on both! While her body held tight to the baby—allowing it to develop just a little bit more—she’d live stream via zoom into our rehearsals. I joked that she was my mini-me, as I carried around my laptop so she could watch and paint the finishing strokes on her production.

She made it to the second night of tech. I said good-bye at 10:15 PM, shut my laptop and went home. Sara said good-bye, went to the hospital and was holding her baby girl in her arms at 1:15 AM—delivered 4 weeks early.

Sara and her baby, Noor, are home and healthy, and will be attending the closing show of Pride & Prejudice where Sara will watch the finished version of what she crafted for the first time.

Through all of this, I kept wondering what Jane Austen would think?! Or more specifically, Mr. Darcy and Elizabeth Bennet.

For, in Sara, maybe we see a truly accomplished woman. For not only does she possess a thorough knowledge in music, art, voice, movement, humor AND extensive reading, but she does so all while being with child.

Jennifer McHugh