Polly Teale's Jane Eyre

Polly Teale must be out there, not believing it herself. Perhaps she will be asked about it at this event. Only months after Brontë finished its tour around theatres, she has seen how her two other parts of her so-called Brontë trilogy are being staged too - simultaneously. We recently posted about After Mrs Rochester. Today it's Jane Eyre's turn.

Unrelatedly, two different websites are talking about this play today.

First of all, icLiverpool reviews it since it's on stage at the Liverpool Playhouse since yesterday (March 7) until Saturday (March 11) as previously reported. Check out the times, since they have a couple of matinees, even. For pricing info click here.

In the book's famous opening with Jane reading a book indoors because of the wet weather, she has the mad woman Bertha alongside her reading the same book, injecting her own experience into Jane's imagination. Well, it's an idea, but one that makes for some awkward moments.

Later in the play, Bertha, apparently invisible, picks at Jane's skirt and for much of the action Bertha writhes away in the attic, mirroring Jane's emotions.

Interesting mixture and viewpoint there.

While it underlines Jane's anguished mental state (and possibly that of author Charlotte Bronte) it is also distracting and with Monica Dolan as Jane revealing her tortured mind just as well with an outstanding acting performance, it often seems unnecessary. It also takes away some of the mystery about the locked room.

Well, it probably does take some of the mystery away. But it's to be supposed that most people attending the performance will know the basic plot of the novel, so there wouldn't be much of a mystery anyway. And it's not a stage version of Jane Eyre - the novel - but a stage version of someone else's vision of it.

However, the production from the visiting Shared Experience company is for the most part a strong, moody and intriguing psychological drama played as an ensemble piece with theatrical flourishes. John Lightbody, for example, plays Rochester's barking dog among other roles, a really believable dog too, even though he does not bother with a costume.

Is it wrong that we found John Lighbody's role extremely hilarious?

Scenes are played with the minimum of props, a meal under-taken without table or food, just actors with knives and forks. But designer Neil Warmington has produced an atmospheric backdrop of clouds, a broken staircase and, of course, that attic. Myriam Acharki as Bertha has no dialogue but writhes away in animated fashion.

By now we know Polly Teale's frugal style, don't we?

The rest of the eight-strong cast play numerous roles, filling out Bronte's story in generally straightforward fashion.

It is all held together by Monica Dolan's Jane, a demanding role physically and emotionally with the character never off stage in this three-hour drama.

As usual, it would be interesting to see, and for a moment there we thought perhaps...

M&C Arts reports on the London leg of the Jane Eyre tour, giving the definite dates and venue:

Polly Teale's 1997 adaptation of Charlotte Bronte's Jane Eyre will return to the West End. The play will begin previews at the Trafalgar Studios on May 9th followed by opening night on May 12th. The limited engagement is set to run through July 29th.

Too bad. Us BrontëBlog team will probably be arriving in London only a few days later. Oh well, there'll be plenty to choose from anyway, but it would have been thrilling to be able to see it! So, as usual, if anyone happens to catch this - let us know! :)

Click here for further information on this Jane Eyre tour.

Categories: Jane_Eyre, In_the_News, Theatre