Jane Eyre in Ohio and Hawaii

We don't know exactly why, but there are several Jane Eyre theatrical adaptations opening in the US these days. Today we present two of them:

1. Columbus School for Girls.

US Fall Play 2006

Jane Eyre
adapted from Willis Hall

• November 9 ; 7:30 pm
• November 10 & 11 8:00 pm

Shedd Theater.
Columbus, Ohio.

2. UH Hilo Performing Arts Center (University of Hawai'i at Hilo)

The UH Hilo Performing Arts Center presents the riveting drama Jane Eyre as the mainstage production for Fall 2006.

The fictional tale of a plain, orphaned girl who survives great adversity in England in the 1840’s will be directed by drama professor, Jackie Pualani Johnson. The play becomes a work of great emotional force in this adaptation of the classic Charlotte Bronte tale. Through the use of narrators’ voices, adaptor Willis Hall uses an ensemble approach that allows the young woman’s inner life to come to the stage with great passion. Jane’s struggle with love, acceptance, and injustice become palatable in a nineteenth century setting that provides a sense of the treatment of women and children at that time.

Jane Eyre reflects upon the relations between men and women, women's equality, religious faith and religious hypocrisy (and the difference between the two), the realization of selfhood, and the nature of true love. A work of fiction with memorable characters and vivid scenes, Jane Eyre remains a classic of nineteenth-century English literature that appeals to both the head and the heart,

A cast of seventeen actors will be lead by Aya Itoh, a UH Hilo international student from Japan who will create the title role. Playing opposite her as the troubled, secret-keeping master, Edward Rochester, will be Ray Campainha, who worked as a professional actor with the Honolulu Theatre for Youth after graduating from UH Hilo. The rest of the ensemble is cast in multiple roles, from Jane’s pupil, Adele, to the flamboyant Blanche, who attempts to use her beauty and wiles to lure Rochester. The cast is includes UH Hilo students Amy Day, Robert Grgach, Le’a Gleason, Alohi Gronquist, Heather Hanily, Luke Koehn, Katie Lambert, Tristan Mathers, Joy Sever, Judith Skyles, and Mimi Tincher. UH Hilo graduates Z Knight, Ilan Lagnado, and Joyce Stevens also are part of the ensemble. The group is rounded out by Kamehameha Schools Hawai’i student, Jace Saplan.

UH Hilo resident designer, Patrick Kelly, has created a set that allows travel through time and locale, with levels and lighting imparting a sense of Jane’s travels and tribulations. Rob Abe will serve as technical director and sound designer. The costume crew is comprised of Maiva Blaisdell, Lani Thur-Fine, and Katie Lambert, all Performing Arts majors.

• Fridays and Saturdays, November 10, 11, 17,& 18, 2006, at 7:30 p.m.,
• Sunday matinees on November 12 & 19 at 2:00 p.m

We wonder who chose the poster. One thing is for sure... he/she never has read Jane Eyre.

Some days ago we posted about a production of Jane Eyre. The musical in Baltimore. *ZZBest* has kindly posted a comment with a review:

[T]his Baltimore premier of Jane Eyre, the Musical is fantastic. Nancy Powichroski, Director, did a wonderful job telling this Victorian romance story. The casting is almost perfect. It is hard to belief the level of talent in one show. (Read more)

Categories: Theatre, Jane Eyre