July's crop of reviews

A good many reviews on the net today.

The Adventures of Deluzy publishes what we consider an outstanding review of the American first part (the first two parts in the UK) of Jane Eyre 2006. Some very interesting drawbacks and strong points are listed. Let us quote just one of the strengths mentioned:

Finally, the two main actors, Ruth Wilson and Toby Stephens, are good. This is admittedly, perhaps, the most important element. I could quibble about their looks (she's too pretty, he's too young), but hey, I can suspend disbelief, and they do have a convincing energy between them that's essential for any successful production of Jane Eyre.

Another take on Jane Eyre - Jane, the ballet - is reviewed by Elizabeth Clark for the Kalamazoo Gazette.

At Friday's world premiere of the Kalamazoo Ballet Company's "Jane Eyre"-inspired ballet, "Jane," cumbersome costumes dulled the dancers' physical lines and took away from some of the dazzling dancing.
The show was created and produced by Therese Bullard and choreographed by August Tye and premiered at the Kalamazoo Civic Theatre.
The costumes themselves were period-appropriate and gorgeously constructed by costume designer Jocelyn Bullard and company, and the garments would've handsomely outfitted a theatrical production. Too many of the dresses hung well below the knee or to the ankle, however, which made movements that should seem fluid in many cases look frumpy. During one pirouette in particular the air that billowed in two dancers dresses made them resemble Fruit of the Loom grapes more than prima ballerinas.
This reviewer had the opportunity to sit in on a non-dress-rehearsal and witness the awe-inspiring falling-in-love pas de deux between leads Jane (portrayed by Therese Marie Rosenberg, talented literally leaps beyond her 15 years) and Mr. Rochester (an amazing Chicago import, Peter Gaona). While this scene easily marks the highlight of this ambitious and compelling work, it was still more ravishing in rehearsal leotards that better exhibited Rosenberg's Cirque du Soleil-worthy arches of back and length of line. Blessedly, a repeated gesture that palpably conveyed the couple's passion endured -- a motion in which Gaona's hands glide purposefully heavenward up Rosenberg's arms to join with hers.
The show is rampant with wonderful touches such as the tender lifts, touches and carries between its remarkable leads. Even a simple patty-cake game played by Jane's cousins Georgina (Cate Stanton) and Elisa (Jenny Harris) in the ballet's first act was perfectly timed with the Max Reger score and well-choreographed to show the outcast Jane's stung reaction. Rosenberg also made a wonderful transition from her dour demeanor at the onset and after her flight from her wedding to light-on-her-feet glee during her happy times with Rochester. As the mad woman, Heather Smith used tinges of modern dance to approximate her character's madness, and this enriched the texture of the overall work.
Guest stars Stanton, Darrell Dautrive, Jenny Harris and Katie McMann, fellow Chicagoans of Tye in this tale-of-two-cities undertaking, all performed admirably in several roles. As Rochester's ward Adele Varens, Stanton was a show-stealer. Kalamazoo ballet apprentices Tiara Blair, Xavyer Williams and Eleanor Epskamp-Hunt appeared in the party scene and were bright light in the program, although the off-timed beats of their tambourines were unnerving to my guest.
A change that's likely to be incorporated into any future productions is live narration in lieu of the narration included in the taped score. Much of the narration between scenes was muddled under audience applause.
Although the overly long costumes diminished from the powerful punch this show could pack, that applause was most decidedly well-earned and would ring all the louder in future stagings if those hemlines undergo major alterations.

Interesting review of a brave new look at Jane Eyre.

Mike Doug has been reading Wuthering Heights. He has an in-depth look at the people and places up until chapter 9. But there are more posts on the novel if you scroll down the main page of his blog.

The New Zealand Herald writes about The Thirteenth Tale. It was high time we read a new review of this much-reviewed novel.

And now for non-review items. Treasure Tables reminds us that there is a Wuthering Heights Roleplay. We too wrote about it a few months ago, though it has been going on for a few years now.

Continuing with yesterday's holiday plans, we bring you today Diane Kay's post at the Brontë Parsonage Blog describing the family-oriented activities that will take place at the Parsonage in August.

Categories: Books, Brontë Parsonage Museum, Dance, Jane Eyre, Movies-DVD-TV, Weirdo, Wuthering Heights