A Hungarian Jane Eyre

A theatrical production based on Jane Eyre opens today, December 18, in Budapest, Hungary, although the official premiere is tomorrow, December 19.

Radnóti Színház
1065 Budapest, Nagymező u. 11

Charlotte Brontë
JANE EYRE
Translated by Mária Ruzitska

Jane Eyre ... Kata Wéber
Edward Rochester ... Sándor Terhes
Bertha Mason ... Mari Csomós
Sarah Reed ... Márta Martin
Helen Burns ... Virág Marjai

(In the picture, Kata Wéber and Sándor Terhes, Source)

Set: Mária Ambrus Costumes: Mari Benedek Dramaturg: Júlia Ungár Assistant: Margit Balák
Director: Sándor Zsótér
Premiere: december 19. 2006.
December 18, 19, 21, 28 19:00
January 8,11,26,28,30 19:00

"I could not help it: the restlessness was in my nature; it agitated me to pain sometimes. Then my sole relief was to allow my mind's eye to dwell on whatever bright visions rose before it -- and, certainly, they were many and glowing; to let my heart be heaved by the exultant movement, which, while it swelled it in trouble, expanded it with life; and, best of all, to open my inward ear to a tale that was never ended -- a tale my imagination created, and narrated continuously; quickened with all of incident, life, fire, feeling, that I desired and had not in my actual existence."
Jane Eyre did not know her parents. Until the age of 10 her aunt bred her. She does not understand and like the small girl. To get rid of Jane she sends her to Lowood, to an orphanage, where despite of the bad circumstances she can live and learn more freely. After eight years in Lowood she signs on for a job, to be a governess. This lifestyle does not satisfy her, but she falls in love with Mr. Rochester, the owner of the house, who after many hardship and probation proposes her. The marriage however fails.. Mr. Rochester and Jane will meet again after much physical and mental anguish.

The stage version introduces to us a self sufficing and self-conscious young woman, who is sensitive, receptive and amenable to beauty and good and truehearted in all her deeds.

As it can be seen in the synopsis and in the pictures of the production (more pictures can be found here), we are not talking of an adaptation but about a re-interpretation or a free version. More information can be found in these links, albeit in Hungarian... and we have to admit that our Hungarian is... limited.

Magyar Hírlap article
Metro Magyarország article

Categories: Theatre, Jane Eyre, Translations