Another Brontë play

This time in Salem, Oregon.

The Statesman Journal reports an interview with the guest director, Gabrielle Brewer-Wallin. Dear Charlotte previews Thursday and opens Friday at Willamette University's Kresge Theatre (until October 9). It was developed from a senior thesis in 1999 by Joy Gregory, who is the director. She's written two versions of it: a one-act version and a two-act version. Here they are playing the one-act version in two acts (confused?)

The plot is revealed in the prologue, and the play begins at the end of Brontë's life and ends with the 1847 publication of "Jane Eyre."
Gregory drew on Brontë's letters and diaries but also imagined conversations in the style of the author. The story focuses on the early life of Brontë, although touching on most of the moments of a troubled life that ended at age 37 in 1854.

One of the most original things to this is certainly the set:

The set, with oversized windows, a wooden floor and backdrops, is somewhat surreal in style.
"It's realistic, but it's not in the style of realism," Brewer-Wallin said of the play. "Things become heightened in our memory; they have been exaggerated in our memory."

But the fact that all the actors are on stage all the time is no less surprising:

All the actors are on stage at all times, some playing multiple parts, and the narrative is non-linear, slipping back and forth in time.

Other details are:

Kristin Knutson designed the set for "Dear Charlotte," with music by Hal Logan and lighting by Adam Saucy.
The cast of 12 includes Kayti Barnett as Emily Brontë, Jessica Lynch as Ann Brontë, Sarah Jo Kendall as Maria Brontë (the daughter), Joanie C. Anderson as Elizabeth Brontë and David Payne as Branwell.
Multiple roles are played by Drew Foster, Kyle McBroom, Laura Hoff, Laura Wheatman and Lesli Okorn.

What can we say to the cast and directors but break a leg!

(Photo by Vern Uyetake )

Categories: Theatre, Charlotte_Brontë