A strong flavour of Jane Eyre

The Orange County Register reviews the performances at the Brethren Christian Junior & Senior High School of Jane Eyre: A Musical Drama by Gordon & Caird:

A bedroom set aflame and haunting laughter is heard throughout the halls. Who is responsible? What secrets hide behind the walls? In the midst of it all, two people fall in love. But how will they live happily ever after?
Charlotte Brontë's masterpiece arrives on stage at Brethren Christian High School's production of "Jane Eyre: A Musical Drama." Nominated for a Tony for Best Musical in 2001, John Caird's and Paul Gordan's musical closely resembles the novel, following the title character as she finds her true love only to discover Thornfield's best kept secret.
The strong cast of both junior and high school students was anchored by the talents of Nicole Braun (Jane Eyre) and Ryan Strong (Edward Rochester). In "Sirens," their beautiful voices wove together to produce a heart-wrenching duet of their seemingly unrequited love. In "The Captive Bird," Braun's expressive face attempted to hide her shock when Rochester easily recognized her desire for adventure. Her anger at her own foolishness in "Painting Her Portrait" demonstrated her versatility and ease with changing moods. Strong's transformation from the stiff and moody Rochester into an old gypsy woman, complete with realistic falsetto, provided much-needed comic relief to an otherwise serious character.
J.T. Roque's portrayal of the preening, self-absorbed socialite Blanche Ingram contrasted well with that of Margaret Nkansah's Helen, whose mantra of forgiveness became a running theme. Taylor Lardas' (Bertha Mason) floating voice in "Sirens," as well as her dancing inbetween Braun and Strong visually reminded the audience that she stood between their happiness.
Robert's (Patrick Quinn) frustration at Mrs. Fairfax's (Kelsey Coleman) deafness provided comic relief in songs like "Perfectly Nice" and "The Master Returns." Amanda Martin (Grace Poole) added to her interpretation of the creepy maid with her insolent responses and expressions. The narrating ensemble spoke at the perfect pace, slowly enough to be understood but quickly enough for the story to continue.
The lighting design (Austin K. Johnston and Grant Carpenter) lit up most of the actors' faces. The stage crew (Josh Mar, Montgomery Shaw, Joey Shope, and Keegan Lund) ensured that all actors were ready for their entrances. The cast moved the chairs and tables quickly, entering and exiting without distracting from the other characters' songs.
Brethren Christian's exceptional production of "Jane Eyre: A Musical Drama" beautifully expressed the novel's messages of forgiveness, independence, and love. Brontë first published "Jane Eyre" in 1847, but these themes still resound over 160 years later. (Rebecca Miller)

It's not the first time that Stephenie Meyer's Twilight saga is linked with the Brontës. Wuthering Heights is an usual suspect but The Times also highlights Jane Eyre references:

Strip away the vampires and it is easy to see how the themes of Meyer's books appeal to teenagers, especially girls. The heroine is swept off her feet by a handsome hero. In the unremarkable Bella, who wins the heart of the charismatic man with a dark secret, there is a strong flavour of Jane Eyre. (...)
Meyer believes that this lack of social realism is part of the appeal to her fans. “There are a lot of kinds of reality. There is a lot of representation [in contemporary literature] for a kid in high school who is drinking and sexually active. There are a hundred books they can relate to. When I was in high school, the people I related to were Jane Eyre and Elizabeth Bennett because I wasn't having that experience. I know a lot of kids who relate to my books because they don't drink and they are not sexually active. There are a ton of them but they don't get a lot of representation in literature or television or movies. Kids who are just good kids and follow the rules - they are out there and they don't get any playtime.”(Darmian Whitworth)

Another recurring topic in the Brontë news is Charlotte Brontë's fatal illness. Hyperemesis Gravidarum is the most probable candidate:

One of the defining symptoms of severe HG is that the drugs don't work, and there sadly isn't a whole other stable of drugs that medics are holding back for when things get really bad. One school of thought is that Charlotte Brontë probably died of severe HG, along with her unborn child. Elizabeth Gaskell identified her "sensations of perpetual nausea and ever-recurring faintness" but since, at that time and indeed until the middle of the last century, doctors thought morning sickness was psychosomatic - resulting from ambivalent feelings about becoming a mother - it could have been politeness that caused Brontë's doctor to write TB on her death certificate. Death from HG would probably be the result of kidney or heart failure. (Zoe Williams in The Guardian)

Johnstons at Tyndale posts about her visit to her recent trip to Haworth. Didascálias confronts Jane Eyre and Wide Sargasso Sea (in Portuguese). Much Madness is Divinest Sense reviews Jean Rhys's book. A.J. Kiesling is interviewed on Novel Journeys and once again she credits her Brontëiteness:

Other authors whose writings have influenced me are Gail Godwin, Sue Monk Kidd, NAME (Peace Like a River), C.S. Lewis, and the Bronte sisters.

Wuthering Expectations has two interesting posts on Jane Eyre. The first one traces book references and/or influences and the second one traces a chronology of the novel.

A Lady Bug's Books reviews Rachel Ferguson's The Brontës Went to Woolworths and A Girl Walks into a Bookstore discusses Laura Joh Rowland's The Secret Adventures of Charlotte Brontë:

I was enthralled by the mystery, which unfolded perfectly, and did not want this book to end. It’s a must read for anyone who enjoys the works of the Bronte sisters, and the book made me want to re-read Jane Eyre. (Katherine)

Finally, The Boylan Blog posts and analyzes Emily Brontë's poem Remembrance.

Categories: Books, Brontëites, Charlotte Brontë, Haworth, In the News, Jane Eyre, Music, Poetry, References, Theatre, Wide Sargasso Sea