Wanted: A Darcy with pride but no false modesty

The hunt is on to find a new Mr Darcy. He must be hunky, haughty and happy to take his kit off in front of hundreds of admiring women.

The right man will disrobe slowly, from his top hat down to his drawers, during a 60-minute presentation of the story behind a Regency buck's sartorial elegance.

Originally conceived by Sheffield fashion expert Gillian Stapleton as a way of bringing social history to life, her production Undressing Mr

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Darcy has been causing a stir among women of all ages, wherever it plays and attracts audiences which can number hundreds.

They are all hooked on Darcy's romantic image, most famously demonstrated by actor Colin Firth in a figure-hugging wet shirt during the BBC's 1995 version of Jane Austen's novel Pride and Prejudice.

But now Mrs Stapleton's former husband, Ian, who plays the title role, is moving to London and a new career as a theatrical fight arranger.

"The job spec is a bit unusual, it's not what you'd find in a Jobcentre" she said. "But he doesn't have to be a Colin Firth clone. The audience come to see Mr Darcy. Undressing Mr Darcy is what every woman wants to do.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

"Colin Firth is attractive, but he isn't that special, it's the Darcy aura which gets them. Its a legend that will run and run. He has been a desirable hero since the book first came out. Women dream of being Elizabeth Bennet.

"When we get the look right, people say 'Wow!' as he walks in. It's the outfit – and somebody who can carry himself well. He must have a certain air about him.

"He doesn't need to be an Adonis, but he should be tall, quite muscular and have broad shoulders.

"He needs to display haughtiness and then be able soften down into a more humane Darcy as the character does in the novel.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

"We often get applause when he comes in looking so stuck-up. They seem to think it is wonderful that he sneers at them. He must also not be afraid of attention.

"A lot of ladies flock round him at the end because they want to get a closer look, but touching is not allowed."

Undressing Mr Darcy is produced by the York-based group History Wardrobe which Mrs Stapleton formed with her friend Lucy Adlington to tell the story of fashion.

It was devised five years ago as a companion piece to a lecture Dressing Queen Victoria which was popular with Women's Institutes, community groups and schools.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Ms Adlington said: "It was originally called Dressing Mr Darcy, but a friend made a Freudian slip and it went from there".

"It is our most popular talk for obvious reasons, we do three or four performances a week."

The presentation is narrated by Mrs Stapleton with Mr Darcy reading from contemporary writers, including Regency dandies, who recorded how they took four hours to tie a cravat and wept when they had to go out in the rain.

Now 43, Mr Stapleton thinks its time to make way for a younger man. In the book Darcy is 27. "It's not like the Chippendales, we don't sell it on those terms and the audience isn't slavering" said the 6ft 2in actor who admits to working out to keep himself in trim.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

"The audience reaction varies. There is a certain amount of flirty banter with them, but it's not for me to say if I am a handsome specimen.

"I have never actually had anyone swoon, but they are often very appreciative.

"I appear fully-dressed and remove a garment as we go on. I finish in Mr Darcy's drawers, which are massive.

"Effectively it's topless, but I am very quickly into a dressing gown."

Mr Stapleton added: "My replacement has to be willing to get topless in rooms full of ladies. There were 600 from the Oxford WI Federation at my last gig."

Related topics: