A Behemoth of Canonical English Literature

A couple of reviews of the current performances of April de Angelis's adaptation of Wuthering Heights in Birmingham: (In the picture, Amanda Ryan, ©Manuel Harlan, source)
Metro.co.uk briefly reviews the play positively:

Translating the wild landscape of Emily Brontë's novel to the stage is a daunting task, but one that director Indhu Rubasingham manages here with aplomb.
A sparse set is variously transformed into the troubled Heights and lush Grange through fold-away props, set against an atmospheric background of clouds rolling over the dark moors. The tale is delivered via the recollections of lifelong servant Nelly Dean (played wonderfully by Susannah York), who moves seamlessly from detached storyteller into the action as her younger self.
Her audience is Simon Coates' Mr Lockwood, a well-meaning London snob offering light relief in the knotty narrative. Amanda Ryan blazes as the beautiful, petulant Cathy (and later simpers as her daughter, Catherine), turning in an intensely physical performance with Antony Byrne's Heathcliff, whose descent from wide-eyed raggamuffin to sadistic beast is believable and hugely moving. (Zofia Niemtus)

Whatsonstage is not so thrilled:

Emily Bronte’s Wuthering Heights is, of course, a behemoth of canonical English literature. To attempt to adapt this epic tome into a two-hour performance is ambitious enterprise, to say the least - if not an entirely misguided one. Not to be deterred, however, April De Angelis and the Birmingham Repertory Company have rolled their sleeves up and taken it on. Sadly, however, they’ve not really come out on top.
The simple fact is that some things just don’t translate well to stage. Bronte’s perennial love story of Heathcliff and Cathy up on the wild Yorkshire moors is rich, complex and epic, but when condensed into two hours just seems a little bit baffling and occasionally ridiculous. There is only so much wailing and collapsing that you can take without either wanting to cry or laugh yourself. Unfortunately, the audience seemed to plump for the latter; often at moments of high drama; which, presumably were not intended to be quite so amusing…
This adaptation lacks the psychological depth and complexity of the novel. Consequently, you feel like you’re just watching a handful of histrionic Northern sociopaths systematically wailing, fighting, collapsing and then dying. (Usually somewhat inexplicably: from standing on a table? From wearing a white nightie? From sitting on sofa too long?) Their behaviour just comes across as odd or extreme and it becomes difficult to relate to or engage with them.
The cast themselves gave reasonable performances considering the melodramatic nature of the play and the rather unimaginative direction. The best of the bunch is Susannah York as Nelly Dean; a plausible, likeable and sympathetic presence (albeit with a rather anachronistic funky hairdo). Simon Coates as Lockwood also suffers less from melodramatic direction and provides some good comedy value.
Other positives are the set and lighting design; from Mike Britton and Chris Davey, respectively. With a difficult remit of providing a sense of the two entirely different households huddled against the dramatic backdrop of the Yorkshire moors; some ingenuity has gone into the simple, dark, heavy walls of the set; with a swirling projected sky overhead and a whistling wind. There is some clever stagecraft too; with some well-thought-out, symbolic movement of both props and people.
It suggests that the elements of this production that work are the elements in which a degree of ingenuity have been applied and a keen understanding of the difference between book and stage. If you’re going to tackle something as immense as Wuthering Heights, you’re going to have to do something really different with it, rather than De Angelis’ two-hour, whistle-stop tour of the novel. Though never boring, the result, sadly, is a bit nonsensical, a bit farcical and a bit abrupt. (Fiona Handscomb)

EDIT: Spaghetti Gazetti gives also her opinion:

Angel De Angelis’ adaptation of the Emily Bronte classic is a disarming mix of humour and menace and Indhu Rubasingham’s direction engages well with this interpretation, giving the play a visceral and physical re-telling.
The setting is stark, with clever use of sound, shadow and sleight of hand striking an apparitional cord throughout.
Amanda Ryan’s Cathy is convincing, capturing the rebellious, vulnerable, spoiled and bad tempered heroine, although, Antony Byrne does not quite convince as the menacing, brooding yet ultimately ‘more sinned against than sinning’ Heathcliff.
That said, there was a commendable level of ‘goosebump moments’ and the notoriously difficult to stage work, which could have so easily fall into parody ultimately satisfied. (Sarah Flanagan)

The Library Journal talks about last season's first novels. Syrie James's Charlotte Brontë's Secret Diaries, which will be published next year, is mentioned:

James, Syrie. The Lost Memoirs of Jane Austen. Avon. ISBN 978-0-06-134142-7. pap. $13.95.

An Austen memoir is discovered, revealing a secret love. At least that’s the premise behind this Discover find, also a 2007 LJ Editors’ Fall Pick. Published last winter, the book is now in its ninth printing, with more than 115,000 copies available. “Tantalizing, tender, and true to the Austen mythos” (LJ 9/1/07)—and so successful that James is coming out with Charlotte Bronte’s Secret Diaries next year.

The Rutland Herald celebrates the thirty anniversary of Rutland Free Library Book discussion program whose first discussed book was no other that Jane Eyre:

Thirty years ago, an internationally successful form of book discussion was born at Rutland Free Library, when more than 50 women gathered to talk about Charlotte Brontë's "Jane Eyre" with scholar and local poet Joan Aleshire.
It was part of a series of discussions about women in literature that, at first, no one was sure would catch on with the public. (Stephanie M. Peters)

Now some posts from our fellow bloggers: Critic Picks W/Alex Udvary reviews Jacques Tourneur's film I Walked With a Zombie. New Lits 2008 has rewritten (and condensed) Jane Eyre. Wuthering Expectations has posted recently several interesting articles: Heathcliff is a Monster and Obscure Emily Brontë and Rider Lawnmower Woman recommends Wide Sargasso Sea.

Categories: Books, Movies-DVD-TV, Theatre, Wide Sargasso Sea, Wuthering Heights