Jane Eyre: The Musical appraisal

Since the Department of Theatre of the University of Maryland is staging Jane Eyre: The Musical, Diamondback online - the University of Maryland's independent student newspaper - carries an exquisite article (yes, exquisite we say!) on the many good things about, not only the musical, but also the novel itself.

The truth is, actresses such as Julia Roberts should probably thank the late Brontë for creating Jane Eyre, whose Cinderella story has been rehashed in everything from Pretty Woman to Erin Brockovich. And that’s one of the reasons director Scot Reese wanted to bring Jane Eyre: The Musical to the university’s theatre department, which will give the show its Washington-area premiere starting Thursday evening at the Clarice Smith Performing Arts Center’s Ina and Jack Kay Theatre.

Hear, hear!

Lest we believe Jane Eyre is merely 19th century Chick lit, Reese is quick to point out that the themes and twists in the love story transcend gender lines. There are many examples of gothic undertones, such as a supernatural call from across the heath summons Eyre to her true love. Tragedy besets the story from the beginning, as Eyre survives a horrific childhood in the 1800s to become a governess at Thornfield Hall, then endures more trials before she can marry as she pleases. Even a few comic bits find their way into the story.

Applauses, please!

We know there's a fanbase for Mr Rochester so this might be of interest to all those (that is, to everyone for who can help but fall in love with him like Jane?)

“He’s a complex guy,” says senior theatre performance major James Gardiner of his character, Edward Rochester, the wealthy, mysterious man who lures Jane into a more passionate life. “Throughout the book he’s considered a dark and brooding character, but I’ve been trying to work against the idea of him being brooding and find his sense of humor.”

Have you ever wondered what Jane Eyre and Ally McBeal could have in common?

Even the music itself has a link, however trivial, to a more recently crowned symbol of female independence: Paul Gordon, who wrote the score for Jane Eyre, cowrote the theme music for Ally McBeal with Vonda Shepard. Gordon wrote about 40 songs for Jane Eyre, which gives each of the many leads — all parts of what Reese considers an ensemble cast — plenty of room to sing to the farthest reaches of the heath during the two-hour show.

And, finally, the last paragraph of the article is simply to die for. What a pleasure reading this kind of articles is:

“We want the main message of the show to be despite whatever happens to you, whatever injustice, whatever cruelty, have faith in people and take a chance on love and forgiveness,” Howard says. “[The larger cast] brings something unique to this show, particularly because it’s a musical. We’re all in it together, and everyone’s all very supportive and a really strong family.”

Don't you have a silly smile on your face now? But you should be playing the score while you book that flight to Maryland, you know!

(Article by Laura Kennedy. Picture by Stan Barouh)

Categories: Theatre, Music, Jane_Eyre, Charlotte_Brontë